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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team is set to close out its five-game-in-10-day stretch this weekend with home contests against Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State. The RiverHawks (6-8, 3-4 MIAA) will entertain the Lopers (6-7, 3-4 MIAA) at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16 before playing host to the No. 23-ranked Tigers (11-2, 5-2 MIAA) at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18 inside the NSU Event Center (3,100).

NSU and UNK have met just once since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97, and that was an 85-57 NSU victory last season at Jack Dobbins Field House (Jan. 5, 2013). The only two meetings in NSU's NCAA history between the RiverHawks and Tigers both occurred last year. Northeastern State was victorious in Tahlequah (54-44 on Jan. 3, 2013), while Fort Hays State won the rematch in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Championship in Kansas City (61-42, March 8, 2013).

FHSU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish fourth in the conference, while NSU was picked sixth and UNK was tabbed to place 14th.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	23	Che'Ron Lewis	5-11	Fr-HS	9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg	Cushing, Okla.
F	44	Carrington Fox	5-11	Sr-3L	6.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg	Tulsa, Okla.
G	05	Kate Bellamy	5-9	So-1L	6.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg	NSW, Australia
G	21	Chelsey Beathard	5-8	Jr-2L	8.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Pryor, Okla.
G	22	Sarah Sagely	5-6	Jr-TR	5.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg	West Fork, Ark.
Nebraska-Kearney's Probable Starters
F	35	Shelby Zimmerman	5-10	Sr.	11.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg	Beatrice, Neb.
F	45	Amarah Williams	6-2	Jr.	10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg	St. Louis, Mo.
G	01	Nicole Arp	5-6	Sr.	5.9 ppg, 4.0 apg	Kearney, Neb.
G	15	Laramey Lewis	5-8	So.	8.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg	Trenton, Neb.
G	20	Sarah Hix	5-8	Sr.	8.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg	Broomfield, Colo.
#23 Fort Hays State's Probable Starters
C	40	Kate Lehman	6-4	Jr.	15.4 ppg, 11.9 rpg	Newton, Kan.
G	03	Taylor Chandler	5-5	So.	6.4 ppg, 2.5 apg	Wichita, Kan.
G	05	Beth Bohuslavsky	5-6	So.	6.1 ppg, 3.3 apg	Dwight, Neb.
G	11	Chelsea Mason	5-9	So.	15.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg	Bellevue, Neb.
G	12	Katelyn Edwards	6-0	Sr.	14.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg	Crete, Neb.

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney enters its matchup with NSU sporting a 6-7 record overall with a 3-4 mark in the MIAA. The Lopers are 4-0 at home this season but are only 1-6 on the road. Most recently, UNK topped Northwest Missouri State 70-59 following road losses to Missouri Western State (55-46) and Central Missouri (73-66). The team also owns wins over Lincoln (71-50) and Lindenwood (78-71). Shelby Zimmerman paces the Lopers both in scoring and rebounding (11.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Amarah Williams is second in both categories with averages of 10.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State owns an 11-2 mark this season with a 5-2 record in the conference. The No. 23-ranked Tigers' only two losses were road affairs to Central Missouri (72-51) and Missouri Southern State (76-71). They have won six of their last seven games, including blowout wins over Southwest Baptist (93-66), Lindenwood (99-76) and Lincoln (98-54) in their last three outings. Fort Hays State currently leads the nation in scoring margin (28.0), blocked shots per game (8.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.51). The squad is also fourth in the NCAA in scoring offense (87.6 ppg) and fewest turnovers per game (12.5), sixth in turnover margin (7.23), ninth in assists per game (18.8) and 15th in rebounding margin (9.3). Kate Lehman leads the nation in triple doubles (1) and blocks per game (5.7), and she is also third in rebounds (11.9) and double doubles (9). She leads the team in scoring at 15.4 ppg. Beth Bohuslavsky is second in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.91). Chelsea Mason (15.3 ppg) and Katelyn Edwards (14.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg) also average double-digit scoring.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - NWMSU 57, NSU 51 (OT)
NSU dropped a second-straight overtime decision, this one a 57-51 contest against Northwest Missouri State on Jan. 13 inside Bearcat Arena. The RiverHawks lost back-to-back games for the first time since starting the season 0-4, while the Bearcats picked up a much-needed conference victory. NSU trailed for the majority of the second half, taking its first lead of the final 20 minutes at 6:47. However, in the final 6:04 of regulation and five minutes of overtime, the RiverHawks shot just 2-for-12 overall and 3-for-11 at the free-throw line, while committing four costly turnovers. Freshman guard Jamie Jackson led all scorers with a career-high 16 points, and junior guard Fontana Tate, NSU's leading scorer this season, came back from injury to add 10 points. Both players came off the bench, and NSU's starters combined for just 21 points on 6-for-28 shooting overall and 0-for-11 from three-point territory. Northeastern State posted a 32.7 (18-for-55) shooting percentage overall, while also hitting just 4 of 22 (18.2 percent) from downtown and 11 of 20 (55.0 percent) at the free-throw line. NWMSU shot 37.8 percent (17-for-45) from the field, 31.6 percent (6-for-19) from downtown and 63.0 percent (17-for-27) at the line. Annie Mathews registered a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Ashleigh Nelson and Monique Stevens led the Bearcats with 14 points each. This was the first time in the Randy Gipson era that Northeastern State played back-to-back overtime games, and the contest also tied Gipson's mark for most overtimes in a single season (3, 2005-06 and 2008-09). NSU is 0-3 in OT this season.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 85, UNK 57
The RiverHawks made a school-record-tying 15 three-point baskets en route to an 85-57 win over Nebraska Kearney on Jan. 5, 2013 inside Jack Dobbins Field House. The RiverHawks collected their fourth-straight victory and scored a season high in points, while handing the Lopers their third loss in the last four outings. NSU shot lights out from the field, converting 55 percent of its shots attempts (29-for-53), a season-best 58 percent of its three's (15-for-26) and 80 percent of its free throws (12-for-15). UNK shot just 40 percent from the field (23-for-58), 33 percent from behind the arc (4-for-12) and 54 percent from the charity stripe (7-for-13). Taylor Lewis dropped a season-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting. She knocked down 6 of 7 from downtown in just 21 minutes. Fontana Tate added a career-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and Taylor Collins gave NSU 12 points and five rebounds. Chelsey Beathard posted then-career highs with 13 points, five assists and two blocks. Ivy Jones led the visitors with 12 points. Queen Ohamara, Shelby Zimmerman and Nicole Arp all scored 10 for the Lopers.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - FHSU 61, NSU 42
NSU fell 61-42 to Fort Hays State in the quarterfinals of the 2013 MIAA Championship March 8, 2013 inside Municipal Auditorium. The third-seeded RiverHawks were upset by the sixth-seeded Lady Tigers, who moved on to face No. 2 Central Missouri in the semifinals. Northeastern State was led by Taylor Lewis and Tosha Tyler. Lewis scored 14 points, while Tyler added 13. No other member of the team contributed more than four points. NSU shot 28 percent (14-for-50) from the field, 18 percent (3-for-17) from downtown and 92 percent (11-for-12) at the line. FHSU shot 38 percent (19-for-5) from the field, 37 percent (7-for-19) from beyond the arc and 89 percent (16-for-18) from the charity stripe. The Lady Tigers were paced by Kate Lehman, who finished with a game-high 18 points. Traci Keyser added 14 and Katelyn Edwards scored 10.
 
GIPSON'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Northeastern State currently sits at 6-8 on the season and is on pace to finish with a losing record for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign (6-19 that year). NSU coach Randy Gipson took over the reins the following year and has led the RiverHawks to 14-straight winning seasons. He also coached at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M prior to coming to Tahlequah and had winning seasons all nine years in Miami. This would mark the first time in Gipson's historic career that he was unable to lead a team to a winning record.
 
THE STARTING FIVE
Randy Gipson-coached teams are usually known for consistency at the top of the lineup. This year, however, has been much different for Northeastern State as the team has already utilized eight different starting lineups through the first 14 games of the season. There have been three starting lineups that have been used more than once. The only starting lineup to be used more than twice has been Fontana Tate, Chelsey Beathard, Sarah Sagely, Che'Ron Lewis and Carrington Fox. NSU is 3-2 in games started by those five. Beathard owns the most starts this season with 13. Others to earn at least one start this year are Kate Bellamy and Courtney Cowan.
 
FOX AT HOME
Carrington Fox is the lone senior on this year's NSU women's basketball team. With that distinction comes the honor of carrying a dominant home-court advantage. Last year's seniors were 46-3 in their home careers, and Fox currently has a 40-5 record in Tahlequah. She finished her career with 35-2 record inside Jack Dobbins Field House, and she is 5-3 inside the NSU Event Center.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE RECEIVED VOTES
The NSU women's basketball team received votes in the national preseason USA Today Division II Women's Basketball Top 25 Coaches' Polls. Following an 0-4 start to the season, the RiverHawks fell out of the polls and has yet to return.
 
NSU KNOCKS OFF 5 RANKED FOES IN 2012-13
NSU defeated five ranked opponents last season. The RiverHawks knocked off No. 9 Washburn (52-43), No. 10 Fort Hays State (54-44), No. 18 Pittsburg State (65-50), No. 19 Truman State (46-44), and No. 21 Emporia State (63-51). In all five upset victories, the green and white has held its opponent to a season low in scoring and no worse than the second-worst shooting percentage of the season up to that point.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
The NSU Athletics Department announced its season ticket packages for the home portion of the men's and women's basketball schedule. Adult general admission prices can be purchased for $125, and the season chair back seats are $200. Season ticket holders receive the benefit of sitting in comfortable chair back seats. They also receive first option to purchase playoff tickets, premier seating for NSU's 13 home games, excellent view of the playing surface and premier seating in the new 78,200 square foot multipurpose event center. New for 2013 is the $25 single-game Family 4-Pack, which includes two general admission adult tickets and two general admission student tickets (ages 4 through high school). The Family 4-Pack may be purchased at any time and used at any regular season home game. All Northeastern State home men's and women's basketball games are contested at the NSU Event Center.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013
All fans wishing to attend an NSU home football or basketball contest this season will be required to show a ticket prior to entering the facilities. NSU students and faculty/staff will still be allowed free admittance, but NSU ID's will no longer be accepted as a form of entry. Tickets can be purchased at NSU's new ticketing Web site, goriverhawkstickets.com. NSU students and faculty/staff can access goriverhawkstickets.com and secure their free tickets (either printable or downloaded to your smart phone) through their goNSU accounts. For questions regarding ticket options, please contact Brynn Hamner at 918.444.3901.
 
GO RIVERHAWKS GEAR
Northeastern State University Athletics has partnered with Advanced-Online and has launced its new, one-of-a-kind online shopping site, goriverhawksgear.com. NSU fans have another avenue for acquiring Northeastern State apparel and accessories. The store is loaded with options for fans of all ages, ranging from T-shirts, polos and sweatshirts, to home office supplies, drinkware and kitchen essentials. Every item is branded with official Northeastern State athletics and university logos, and select RiverHawks gear and accessories are customizable. The new online store can be accessed by simply visiting www.goriverhawksgear.com. The shop can also be viewed by clicking on the shopping cart at the top right of www.goriverhawksgo.com, the static graphic underneath the main picture or the rotating horizontal carousel just above the video player.