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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team is set to play host to rival Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6 inside the NSU Event Center (3,100). The RiverHawks (9-10, 6-6 MIAA) are currently reeling after suffering two-straight losses on the road, but they are 8-3 at home this year. The Bronchos (10-9, 5-7) are 2-5 on the road this year.

NSU and UCO have met 32 times in the Randy Gipson era (since 1999), and the RiverHawks own a 22-10 record in that time frame. The green and white swept a home-and-home series last year and is 9-3 in the last 12 matchups. UCO was selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish 11th, while NSU was picked sixth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	23	Che'Ron Lewis	5-11	Fr-HS	9.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg	Cushing, Okla.
F	44	Carrington Fox	5-11	Sr-3L	6.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg	Tulsa, Okla.
G	04	Fontana Tate	5-5	Jr-2L	11.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg	Muldrow, Okla.
G	05	Kate Bellamy	5-9	So-1L	6.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg	NSW, Australia
G	21	Chelsey Beathard	5-8	Jr-2L	9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg	Pryor, Okla.
Central Oklahoma's Probable Starters
F	34	Whitney Dunn	6-0	So.	5.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg	Mustang, Okla.
G	01	Jill Bryan	5-10	Sr.	13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg	Copan, Okla.
G	05	Britney Morgan	5-5	Sr.	9.3 ppg, 2.9 apg	Pawnee, Okla.
G	12	Haley Weathers	5-5	So.	7.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg	Luther, Okla.
G	25	Olivia Mason	5-11	Fr.	9.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg	Fairview, Okla.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma (from Edmond, Okla.) comes to Tahlequah sporting a 10-9 record overall with a 5-7 mark in the MIAA. The Bronchos have lost four of their last five games, falling to Fort Hays State (64-38), Washburn (65-59 OT), Emporia State (73-50), and Pittsburg State (69-66). The lone win in that span came at home against Nebraska-Kearney (82-70). Jill Bryan (13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is the team's leading scorer and is also third in rebounding. Olivia Mason (9.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) leads UCO in rebounding, and Julia Mason (10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is second in both categories.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT - PSU 68, NSU 53
Northeastern State fell 68-53 to Pittsburg State on Jan. 29 inside John Lance Arena. The RiverHawks dropped their third-straight road contest to move back to .500 on the year in league play, while the Gorillas won their third-straight game. Chelsey Beathard led NSU with 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting. Che'Ron Lewis added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Fontana Tate contributed 10. Northeastern State shot 42.3 percent (22-for-52) from the field, 41.7 percent (5-for-12) from behind the three-point line and 57.1 percent (4-for-7) at the line. Pittsburg State finished 25-for-62 (40.3 percent) from the field, 7-for-18 (38.9 percent) from behind the arc and 11-for-14 (78.6 percent) at the free-throw line. PSU was led by Lizzy Jeronimus, who finished with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Cathy Brugman contributed 14 points and eight boards, while Antqunita Reed added 11.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - NSU 64, UCO 58
NSU defeated Central Oklahoma 64-58 on Feb. 27, 2013, in front of a capacity crowd in the final game inside legendary Jack Dobbins Field House. The RiverHawks clinched the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Championship, while the Bronchos suffered their 14th loss in their last 15 games to close out the 2012-13 season. The three seniors who played their final game inside JDF and were honored following the game were Sarah Green, Taylor Lewis and Tosha Tyler. The trio combined for a career 46-3 home record and they won 97 games together. They finished their senior year 11-0 at home. They combined for 42 points, led by a game-high 21 from Tyler. Lewis added 15 and seven rebounds, and Green recorded six points and seven boards. NSU shot 47 percent (24-for-51) from the field, 40 percent (8-for-20) from beyond the arc and 89 percent (8-for-9) at the charity stripe. Central Oklahoma shot 43 percent (23-for-54) from the field, 23 percent (5-for-22) from downtown and 64 percent (7-for-11) at the line. The Bronchos were led by Alyssa Fuxa, who finished with 14 points. Britney Morgan added 12 and Jill Bryan dropped 11 for the visitors.
 
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP FAN LODGING AVAILABLE
The 2014 MIAA Basketball Championships at Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium will be held March 6-9. Fan lodging at the Downtown Marriott is now being accepted for the upcoming event. The fan rate is $137 per night and fans have until Wednesday, February 12 to receive that rate. Lodging is available here: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=10982278. Through this website you can book, modify or cancel your hotel reservations at any time and receive updated information about the event.
 
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.
 
IF THE SEASON WERE TO END TODAY
NSU is currently 6-6 in the MIAA standings and are in solo seventh place. If the season were to end today, the RiverHawks would earn the No. 7 seed and would play host to No. 10 seed Southwest Baptist on March 3 in the first round of the MIAA Championship. The winner of that contest would join seven other schools in Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament. Emporia State, Central Missouri, Pittsburg State, and Fort Hays State are all slated to earn the four byes to KC. Northeastern State defeated Southwest Baptist 60-47 in Tahlequah on Jan. 9.
 
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 111 career blocks, and she is 10 shy of tying Gaile Cook (1989-91) for most blocks in a career in Northeastern State history. She has played in 101 career games, with her 100th appearance coming on the road against Washburn on Jan. 25.
 
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 18 games of the season. There have been three starting lineups that have been used more than once. The starting lineup that has been used the most includes 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 18. 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 43-5 record in Tahlequah. She finished her career with 35-2 record inside Jack Dobbins Field House, and she is 8-3 inside the NSU Event Center.
 
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.