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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team will play host to No. 2 Emporia State at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 inside the NSU Event Center (3,100). The RiverHawks (8-8, 5-4 MIAA) are on a two-game win streak, while the Lady Hornets (17-0, 8-0 MIAA) are one of only five remaining undefeated teams left in NCAA D-II (Bentley 16-0, Nova Southeastern 14-0, Colorado Mesa 15-0, Harding 17-0).

Northeastern State is 2-3 against Emporia State since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97. NSU picked up its first win in the series on Dec. 5, 2013 when the team earned a 63-51 win in Tahlequah. The RiverHawks also went to Emporia and collected a 66-56 win on Feb. 23, 2013. ESU took the first meeting, a 76-45 decision in the 2010 NCAA Sweet 16. The Lady Hornets also swept a home-and-home series in 2011-12. ESU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to win the league, while NSU was picked sixth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	23	Che'Ron Lewis	5-11	Fr-HS	9.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg	Cushing, Okla.
F	44	Carrington Fox	5-11	Sr-3L	6.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg	Tulsa, Okla.
G	04	Fontana Tate	5-5	Jr-2L	11.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Muldrow, 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	9.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg	Pryor, Okla.
#2 Emporia State's Probable Starters
F	24	Desiree Wylie	5-10	Sr.	7.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg	Killeen, Texas
F	35	Merissa Quick	6-3	Jr.	11.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg	Cheney, Kan.
G	02	Kelly Moten	5-8	Fr.	8.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg	Gary, Ind.
G	03	Rheanna Egli	5-8	Sr.	9.1 ppg, 3.3 apg	Ankeny, Iowa
G	04	Laura Patrick	5-10	Sr.	15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg	Hutchinson, Kan.

SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS
Emporia State owns a perfect 17-0 record this season with an 8-0 league mark. The Lady Hornets are defeating MIAA opponents by a league-best 15.0 scoring margin. The closest victory of the season came in their last contest, which was an 80-78 triumph over Pittsburg State. Laura Patrick leads the squad in scoring at 15.1 ppg. Merissa Quick is second in both scoring and rebounding (11.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), while Kionna Kellog also averages double-digit scoring (10.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg). The leading rebounder is Desiree Wylie (7.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg).
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - NSU 49, #23 FHSU 48
Northeastern State posted a 49-48 upset victory over No. 23 Fort Hays State on Jan. 18 inside the NSU Event Center. The RiverHawks earned a league victory against a Tiger squad that entered the contest as the nation's leader in scoring average at 27.9 points per game. FHSU was also on a four-game win streak, defeating the four opponents by a 30.0 point-per-game average. The 48 points by the Tigers was the lowest total of the season by 16 points (previous season low was 64). FHSU also shot just 31.5 percent (17-54) from the field, second-worst of the season, and 50 percent (9-for-18) from the free-throw line, worst of the season. The team was 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) from downtown. Northeastern State shot 38.6 percent (17-for-44) from the field, 40 percent (6-for-15) from behind the three-point line and 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from the line. Chelsey Beathard led NSU with 16 points, and Kate Bellamy added 10. Kate Lehman paced the visitors with a game-high 19 points, but she only had seven rebounds. The seven boards marked the first time since the season opener the nation's third-best rebounder did not reach double digits. Chelsea Mason finished with 11 points, which was four below her season average. Katelyn Edwards entered the game averaging 13.9 points per game, but she was held to a season-low four points.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 66, ESU 56
NSU earned a crucial 66-56 win over Emporia State on Feb. 23, 2013 at William L. White Auditorium. The win clinched an opening-round bye for NSU at the 2013 MIAA Championship. Taylor Lewis led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Tosha Tyler scored 13 points and Chelsey Beathard came off the bench to score 10. Fontana Tate grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Northeastern State shot at a 44-percent clip (26-for-59) from the field and made 8 of 9 (89 percent) from the charity stripe. Emporia State was held to 36 percent (21-for-58) from the field, 26 percent (5-for-19) from behind the arc and 64 percent (9-for-14) at the free-throw line. Laura Patrick paced the Lady Hornets with 14 points, while Rachel Hanf added 10.
 
GIPSON'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Northeastern State currently sits at 8-8 on the season and could potentially 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.
 
FOX SETS BLOCKS RECORD
Carrington Fox registered a career-high eight blocks on Jan. 16 in a win over Nebraska-Kearney. The block total tied the school record for most in a single game (Kathy Brock vs. John Brown on Dec. 8, 1983). She also finished with nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Fox currently has 108 career blocks after posting 13 in her last two games, and she is 13 shy of tying Gaile Cook (1989-91) for most blocks in a career in Northeastern State history. She has played in 98 career games.
 
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 10 different starting lineups through the first 16 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, Courtney Cowan and Jamie Jackson. Mya Walker is the only member of the team who has yet to start a game this season.
 
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 42-5 record in Tahlequah. She finished her career with 35-2 record inside Jack Dobbins Field House, and she is 7-3 inside the NSU Event Center.
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN KC
The 2014 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship is set to take place inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The top 12 teams in the regular season all qualify for postseason play, with the top four earning byes to Kansas City. The first round will be contested at host sites March 3, with the fifth seed hosting No. 12, the sixth seed hosting No. 11, etc. Those four winners will join the top four seeds in KC March 6, 8-9.
 
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.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013-14
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.