Box Score

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team posted an 87-50 victory over Lindenwood Thursday night inside Jack Dobbins Field House.
 
The RiverHawks (15-6, 10-3 MIAA) moved into third place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with the help of a season-high 87 points. The Lady Lions (4-16, 1-11 MIAA) dropped their seventh-straight contest to stay on the bottom of the league table.
 
NSU was led by sophomore guard Fontana Tate, who posted a career-high 17 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting. She also made all three shots from distance and both free throws. Senior guards Tosha Tyler and Taylor Lewis both scored 15 points, and senior forward Sarah Green had 12 points and 10 rebounds for NSU's first double-double of the year.
 
Junior guard Taylor Collins scored seven points and added five rebounds and a career-high six steals. Junior forward Carrington Fox tied her career high with five blocks, and she also recorded six points, four rebounds, and four assists.
 
The RiverHawks shot 52 percent (33-for-63) from the field and finished 11-for-25 (44 percent) from downtown and 10-for-12 at the line (83 percent).
 
Lindenwood shot 28 percent (16-for-58) from the field, 19 percent (4-for-21) from behind the three-point line and 88 percent (14-for-16) at the charity stripe.
 
The Lady Lions were led by Julie Hlinak's 17 points. Marissa Lehnig added 13 and Meagan Hittle contributed 12 for the visitors.
 
Northeastern State took an early 8-3 lead, but Lindenwood battled back to within one at 13-12. Tate drained a triple at 13:49 and the RiverHawks steadily climbed to a nine-point advantage at 29-20 with 3:57 remaining in the half.
 
Seemingly in the blink of an eye, the home side scored on seven of its final eight possessions to close the half on a 20-7 run and lead 49-27 at intermission.
 
Lindenwood would never challenge for the lead in the second half as NSU cruised to the 37-point victory.
 
The 49 points in the opening half were the most scored by the RiverHawks in any half this season.
 
Northeastern State will next play host to No. 19 Truman State at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 inside Jack Dobbins Field House. The Bulldogs fell at Pittsburg State today and sit at 16-4 overall and 9-3 in the MIAA.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
On breaking the game open midway through the first half…
“We got the lead in the latter part of the first half. We shot the three well. I think our defense was solid. We left them open in the first 10 minutes or so of the game, but we tightened the defense up after that. We combined good defense with some shot making, and we were able to open up a nice lead.”
 
On the winning effort…
“We tightened up on their shooters and we rebounded pretty well. We also hit that flurry of shots. We have a team with several three-point threats, and we can catch fire in that area and put points on the board.”

On having a good balance…
“I'm glad to see the balance. That's a strength this team has Everyone knows about our senior guards (Tosha Tyler and Taylor Lewis) and their ability to put points up. We feel like we have other people that can score, too, and I think we showed that tonight.”
 
On Sarah Green getting a double-double…
“It's surprising that doesn't happen more often because she is in the right place most of the time on both ends of the floor. I'm happy to see her get that. I know people make a big deal out of that, but she just played her normal, steady game tonight.”
 
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