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HAYS, Kan. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost 71-41 to Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon inside the Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The RiverHawks fell to 8-8 overall this season and 4-5 in MIAA play, while FHSU (16-1, 9-0 MIAA) remained undefeated in MIAA play this year.

Chelsey Beathard had 16 points to lead NSU. The senior guard was 7-for-12 from the field in 33 minutes. Junior guard Kate Bellamy had 10 rebounds. Bellamy was the first RiverHawk with double-digit rebounds this season since Beathard pulled down 10 on Nov. 15, 2014 against Southeastern Oklahoma State.

NSU shot 27.6 percent (16-for-58) from the field, 28.0 percent (7-for-25) from behind the arc and 100 percent (2-for-2) at the line. FHSU shot 38.2 percent (26-for-68) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-for-17) from 3-point range and 78.9 percent (15-for-19) at the charity stripe.

Kate Lehman led the Tigers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsea Mason also had 18 points.  

The RiverHawks started the game shooting 3-for-6 from the field and led 8-7 before Fort Hays State went on a 25-2 run. The Tigers lead 36-17 at the half. NSU was unable to get closer than 14 points in the second half.

Fort Hays State outrebounded the RiverHawks 51-33. The Tigers also held the edge in points in the paint (24-10), assists (14-7) and blocks (6-0). NSU had more turnovers than their opponent (13-7) for the first time since Dec. 18, 2014 against Missouri Western.

Northeastern State will next return home to take on nationally ranked Emporia State Jan. 21. The game is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. in the NSU Event Center.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
Initial statement…
"Defensively, Fort Hays State is a big challenge especially with Kate Lehman in the middle. A player like that puts a big stress on your defense. We have to pay a lot of attention to her and then several people around her played well and made some shots and we got in a hole. I thought we came out in the second half and played really good, solid basketball for 12 minutes and then we let up and let them get some second shots and let them get the post going again while we quit making shots. This is a learning experience for most of the kids we have out there playing. I thought they fought hard and tried to make plays. We came up short, but I think we'll learn and get better from this."
 
On trying to improve offensively…
"Shooting is a delicate thing and I think you've just got to work on getting good shots. You have to execute and get something to drop. We've been getting some of those good shots, they just haven't been dropping lately."
 
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