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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team erased a 15-point deficit and needed a last-second 3-point play to defeat Lincoln 69-68 Thursday evening inside the NSU Event Center.
 
The RiverHawks (3-3, 1-0 MIAA) won their third-straight conference opener, while the Blue Tigers dropped to 4-2 on the year and 0-1 in the MIAA.
 
NSU quickly found itself trailing 23-8 midway through the first half, but the team was able to chip away and trail just 36-30 heading into the locker room.
 
A layup from freshman guard Alexis Hill opened the scoring in the second half, and the RiverHawks were able to keep the deficit to no more than four points until finally taking a lead with six minutes remaining in the contest.
 
LU's Lizzie Nessling converted a basket at the 13:36 mark to put the visitors on top 46-43. Lincoln went cold for the next nine minutes, shooting 0-for-8 from the field in that span, but the Blue Tigers used 12 free throws to stay in the game as NSU piled up the fouls. LU trailed just 63-60 following a layup from Kate Frazier at the 4:57 mark, and the visitors regained the lead at the 3:40 mark on a pair of free throws from Dorian Briggs.
 
Three free throws from junior guard Kate Bellamy allowed Northeastern State to swing the advantage and give the home team a 66-65 lead with just 1:17 to play. The Blue Tigers had one final possession to try and earn the victory in the waning seconds, and Hunter Yoakum drained a triple with just 4.5 ticks remaining to push Lincoln ahead 68-66. LU made seven 3-point baskets in the first half but did not make another one until that last shot by Yoakum.
 
NSU called a timeout to draw up a play, and the inbounds went to Hill. She went coast-to-coast and converted a last-second layup while being fouled. After a lengthy review by the official's, Hill calmly stepped to the free-throw line and gave her team the one-point victory.
 
Hill finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting in 33 minutes. Senior guard Chelsey Beathard poured in a career-high 18 points, and fellow senior guard Fontana Tate added 10 in the winning effort.
 
Northeastern State shot 36.8 percent (21-for-57) from the field, 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from 3-point territory and 80 percent (20-for-25) at the free-throw line. Lincoln shot an identical 36.8 percent (21-for-57) from the field, 28.6 percent (8-for-28) from downtown and 72 percent (18-for-25) at the charity stripe.
 
Briggs pace Blue Tigers with 16 points. Yoakum added 14, and Nessling chipped in 10 rebounds.
 
Northeastern State will remain in Tahlequah for a 1:30 p.m. tilt Dec. 6 against Lindenwood.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
Opening Statement...
"I thought it was important that we were able to get the game back to a six-point game before the half. I thought we had some good possessions and made a couple of shots right before half. I think that sent us into the locker room feeling a little bit better about being able to come back and be in the game. It was a game that nobody ever had any control of. We have a lot of work to do. We have to be better defensively and on the boards. At the same time, you're excited to see your kids reach down and do things that they need to do to win the game. [Hunter] Yoakum made a big play to make a three-point shot while falling away to give them a two-point lead. Fortunately there was just enough time on the clock for us to diagram something. Alexis Hill went and made a play for us. That's exciting to see a freshman be able to step up and make the play. It was great for her not only to be aggressive and take it to the goal, but to see her, after a long delay, step up and hit the free throw, speaks very well for her composure and competitiveness. We're really pleased to get a win in our first MIAA game and we know we need to go back to work and play better. Lincoln has a solid team so this was a good win for us."
 
On things that need to be worked on...
"We need to stay in front of the ball better and foul less. The fouling tonight almost did us in, as well as defensive rebounding. So just cutting the fouls back and getting better on the boards."
 
On the last play...
"It was a designed play for Alexis Hill and I'm pleased with our kids for executing it well. When she got the ball in her hands and was able to get going full-steamed I felt like there was a chance for us to make a play. It shows something about a young kid like that to go and make a play. She went strong to the basket and made the free throw. Those are all things we can build on."
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE FRESHMAN GUARD ALEXIS HILL
On her final shot and free throw...
"After I hit the shot, everything was running through my mind. I just wanted to get it down for my team. Once I made it, I was so happy and excited for my team. Once I had to hit the free throw, I knew I had to get it for my team. I just had to finish and win it for my team."
 
On coming back from double digits down in the first half...
"Once we started playing defense, especially help defense, we started hitting shots more and coming together. Everything started to flow more and coach told us to keep up the pace at halftime. We just kept fighting and got through it in the end."
 
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