Box Score

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EDMOND, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost 69-65 Saturday afternoon inside Hamilton Field House.
 
The RiverHawks (10-14, 7-10 MIAA) lost their fourth-straight game, while the Bronchos (11-13, 6-11 MIAA) snapped a seven-game losing streak on their Senior Day. NSU remained in solo eighth in the current MIAA standings despite the loss. The team is one game ahead of UCO and Northwest Missouri State, and a top-8 finish would allow the RiverHawks to host a first-round game in the MIAA Championship on March 3.
 
Junior guard Fontana Tate finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her first-career double-double. Sophomore guard Kate Bellamy added 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
Northeastern State shot 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field, 43.5 percent (10-for-23) from behind the arc and 73.3 percent (11-for-15) from the free-throw line. UCO shot 37.5 percent (24-for-64) from the field, 20 percent (6-for-30) from three-point territory and 78.9 percent (15-for-19) at the charity stripe.
 
Jill Bryan paced the Bronchos with 22 points. Britney Morgan scored 13, Julia Mason added 12, and Olivia Mason contributed 10 rebounds.
 
The last lead for NSU came at 14:40 in the first half when the visitors were up 7-6. Central Oklahoma used a 6-0 run to take a 13-6 advantage, and the home team pulled ahead 27-14 by the 5:31 mark before taking a 36-21 edge into halftime.
 
The RiverHawks used a 44-point second half to make things interesting, but they could never get closer than three points down the stretch as UCO held off multiple slate charges.
 
NSU next travels to Kearney, Neb., for a 5:30 p.m. contest Feb. 26 with Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Scoring Summary
Northeastern State              21        44        65
Central Oklahoma                36        33        69
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
Statement…
"UCO came out playing with a lot of energy on their Senior Day. We stood around and hesitated a little bit. We weren't very good with the ball. We went into halftime and regrouped a little bit. We came out and played harder and ran good offense in the second half. We were able to make some shots in the second half. That was one of our better halves we've had in awhile, but it wasn't quite good enough. When we were on the brink of catching them down the stretch, they were able to hit a couple of big shots with players we preferred to shoot for them. They just kept us out of reach. Overall, I'm proud of our team's effort. We were disappointed with the first half, but our kids fought back and competed well just as they have done all year long. We just have to get ready for the next game. We still control our own fate. We are going to go home and get some rest. We'll try not to wear ourselves out this week, and we'll go out and give our best shot Wednesday."
 
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