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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team will begin the second half of the 2013-14 campaign with two home contests. NSU (5-6, 2-2 MIAA) will first face Southwest Baptist (6-5, 1-3 MIAA) at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 before playing host to Missouri Southern State (9-2, 3-1 MIAA) at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 11. Both games will be held inside the NSU Event Center.

NSU and SBU have met 13 times since NSU joined the NCAA in 1996-97, with the Bearcats owning a slight 7-6 advantage. Southwest Baptist took the last meeting in Tahlequah, a 77-64 decision on Nov. 15, 2008, while NSU won last year's contest in Bolivar, 59-43, on Jan. 12, 2013. Northeastern State owns a 7-4 record over the Lions since 1996-97, which includes a home-and-home series sweep last season.

MSSU was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish ninth in the conference, SBU was picked 10th and NSU was picked sixth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	44	Carrington Fox	5-11	Sr-3L	5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg	Tulsa, Okla.
G	04	Fontana Tate	5-5	Jr-2L	12.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg	Muldrow, Okla.
G	05	Kate Bellamy	5-9	So-1L	6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg	NSW, Australia
G	15	Courtney Cowan	5-6	Fr-RS	3.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg	Kansas, Okla.
G	21	Chelsey Beathard	5-8	Jr-2L	9.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Pryor, Okla.
Southwest Baptist's Probable Starters
F	14	Jacqui Zelenka	6-0	Sr.	12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg	Mackay, Australia
C	54	Morgan Lucy	6-3	So.	8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Glenwood, Iowa
G	01	Leann Lansdown	5-6	So.	6.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg	Seymour, Mo.
G	10	Dilonna Johnson	5-7	So.	8.5 ppg, 5.0 apg	Milwaukee, Wisc.
G	32	Brook Duncan	6-0	So.	16.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg	Springfield, Mo.
(RV) Missouri Southern State's Probable Starters
F	25	Samantha Soyez	5-11	Sr.	5.7 ppg, 5.2 apg	Goddard, Kan.
C	34	Shonte Clay	6-2	Sr.	11.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg	Chicago, Ill.
G	04	Nicole Hartzog	5-7	Jr.	11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg	Beaverton, Ore.
G	15	Alexis Fitzpatrick	5-9	Jr.	7.5 ppg, 4.2 apg	Cincinnati, Ohio
G	44	Sharese Jones	5-8	So.	14.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg	St. Charles, Mo.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Southwest Baptist is currently 6-5 on the campaign with a 1-3 mark in the MIAA. SBU has victories over Nebraska-Kearney (85-66), Avila (104-52) and William Jewell (74-70), with losses to Fort Hays State (93-66), Emporia State (85-53) and Washburn (78-71). Brook Duncan has started all 11 contests and leads the Bearcats with 16.5 points per game and a 6.9 rebounding average. Jacqui Zelenka is the top rebounder and second-leading scorer (12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg).
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern State is off to a hot start in 2013-14, owning a 9-2 record with a 3-1 league mark. The Lions own wins over Fort Hays State (76-71), Washburn (68-59) and Nebraska-Kearney (76-72), with lone losses coming at Emporia State (77-56) and Drury (75-54). Dominique Mosley leads four double-digit scorers with 17.5 ppg, while pulling down 7.3 rpg. Sharese Jones leads the team in rebounding and is second in scoring (14.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Shonte Clay (11.9 ppg) and Nicole Hartzog (11.0 ppg) also score double figures.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
NSU lost an 84-73 decision to No. 8 Central Missouri on Dec. 21 inside the NSU Event Center. The 11-point win for UCM was the team's second-fewest margin of victory this year. Fontana Tate tied her career high with 18 points. She hit a career-high five three-point baskets and added six rebounds. Chelsey Beathard added 13 points, Carrington Fox scored 11 and Che'Ron Lewis chipped in 10. Fox registered her first double-figure scoring game of the season and the third of her career. NSU converted 24 of 54 (44 percent) from the field, while hitting 9 of 21 (43 percent) from downtown and 16 of 19 (84 percent) at the free-throw line. The Jennies hit 26 of 53 (49 percent) from the field, 7 of 19 (37 percent) from downtown and 25 of 32 (78 percent) at the charity stripe. Keuna Flax led all scorers with 22 points. BreAnna Lewis added 19 and Quinnecia Twine chipped in 13 for the visitors. Revonnia Howard finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET THE BEARCATS
NSU defeated Southwest Baptist 59-43 on Jan. 12, 2013, at Meyer Sports Center. The RiverHawks committed a season-low six turnovers and earned their first league road win. Taylor Lewis led the visitors with 18 points, and Fontana Tate tied her career high with 13 of her own. NSU was outrebounded 40-32, but the green and white led in steals (7-2), blocks (3-0), points in the paint (24-20), points off turnovers (13-4), and turnovers committed (6-14). Jacqui Zelenka led the Bearcats with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Brittney Dukes came off the bench to score 13.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET THE LIONS
NSU grinded out a 56-48 victory over Missouri Southern State inside Jack Dobbins Field House on Feb. 13, 2013. The RiverHawks were led in scoring by Tosha Tyler's 17 points. Running mate Taylor Lewis added 13 as NSU struggled to a 17-for-48 (35 percent) shooting night. The team made 35 percent (9-for-26) from distance and 62 percent (13-for-21) at the charity stripe. MSSU did not have a starter in double figures, and the team was led in scoring by reserve Johnna tenBerge. She finished with 14 points, and fellow reserve Erin Rice followed with 11 points. The Lions shot 32 percent (17-for-53) from the field, 32 percent (7-for-22) from beyond the arc and just 41 percent (7-for-17) at the free-throw line. Both teams committed 14 turnovers, and MSSU outrebounded NSU 39-36.
 
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 six different starting lineups through the first 11 games of the season. There have only been two starting lineups that have been used more than once (Fontana Tate, Chelsey Beathard, Sarah Sagely, Che'Ron Lewis and Carrington Fox / Tate, Beathard, Kate Bellamy, Courtney Cowan, Fox). NSU is 3-2 when using the first unit and 1-1 with the second. Tate is the only member of the team to start every game this year, and Beathard has started all but one contest. Others to earn at least one start this year are Lewis, Sagely, Fox, Bellamy, and 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 is currently 39-4 in Tahlequah. She finished her career 35-2 inside Jack Dobbins Field House, and she is 4-2 inside the NSU Event Center.
 
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.