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BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team defeated Southwest Baptist 60-45 Thursday evening inside Meyer Sports Center.
 
The RiverHawks (8-5, 4-2 MIAA) played against a team with a Bearcat mascot for the second-straight game (Northwest Missouri State), and for the second-straight time NSU held its opponent to just 45 points in a winning performance. The last time Southwest Baptist (5-7, 1-4 MIAA) scored 45 points or fewer in a game was two seasons ago when the RiverHawks held the Bearcats to just 43 points in Bolivar (Jan. 12, 2013).
 
Northeastern State never trailed in the contest and had four score in double figures. Senior guard Chelsey Beathard led the way with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Freshman forward Bria Pierce scored in double figures (12 points) for the first time in her career. Senior guard Fontana Tate added 11 points, while junior guard Kate Bellamy chipped in 10 points and tied her career high with eight rebounds.
 
NSU shot 48 percent (24-for-50) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-for-12) from behind the 3-point line and 53.3 percent (8-for-15) at the free-throw stripe. SBU shot 36.5 percent (19-for-52) overall, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from distance and 28.6 percent (2-for-7) at the line.
 
No Bearcat scored in double figures, but Sarah Magana finished with a game-high 10 rebounds (one point). This marked the first time since Jan. 21, 2006, that Southwest Baptist did not have a player score in double figures (79-37 home loss to Missouri Western State).
 
Northeastern State jumped on top 15-5 early, and the team was able to stay ahead for a 35-26 halftime advantage. NSU pushed its lead to as much as 17 points in the second half before settling for the 15-point victory. SBU was never able to get the deficit into single figures in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
The RiverHawks committed just eight turnovers, which was four less than its previous season low. They also were able to force 15 Bearcat turnovers. NSU also outrebounded SBU 35-34.
 
Northeastern State will stay on the road for a 1 p.m. matchup Jan. 10 against Missouri Southern State in Joplin, Missouri.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
On getting off to a fast start...
"We got off to a good start. I think that's the best way to come out on a road. I think our kids really dug in and guarded well. We defended well. (Southwest Baptist) has athletic guards that can score, and I thought we defended well. In the first half we didn't rebound as well as we needed to. I thought we gave up some easy stuff there, but we tightened up in the second half and turned it into a solid performance on both ends of the floor. We shot solid, we didn't turn the ball over and we defended. When we started rebounding better in the second half, I thought we were able to take control of the game at that point."
 
On having a performance like this on the road...
"It's important. Every game is important and wins on the road are really important to us. The thing for us is that we're trying to figure out how to be a good team and games like this will help us develop the confidence in each other and in our ability to execute our scheme on both ends of the floor. I'm excited that we can use this to help us keep getting better."
 
On individual performances...
"It's great to see four players in double figures. Chelsey Beathard was really solid. She led the way offensively, and she had a really good defensive game as well. Bria Pierce had her best college game up to this point and, besides getting up 12 points, she defended (SBU's) post people very well. Fontana Tate and Kate Bellamy are good, steady players and they played that way. Kate at the guard spot getting eight rebounds is a plus for us as well. Everybody that played executed our defensive scheme as well. I think it was a great team effort on the defensive end and that really set the tone tonight." 
 
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