Box Score (HTML)  I  Box Score (PDF)

EDMOND, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost 62-47 in a rivalry game to the University of Central Oklahoma Thursday evening inside Hamilton Field House.

The RiverHawks fell to 9-11 overall this season and 5-8 in MIAA play, while UCO snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 14-8 overall and 7-6 in league play.

Junior guard Kate Bellamy had 12 points to lead NSU. Fontana Tate finished with 11 points. The senior guard hit three shots from beyond the arc.

NSU shot 32.7 percent (18-for-55) from the field, 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from behind the arc and 100 percent (5-for-5) at the line. UCO shot 50.0 percent (24-for-48) from the field, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from 3-point range and 87.5 percent (7-for-8) at the charity stripe.

Chelsea Robinson led the Bronchos with 15 points. Olivia Mason came off the bench and added 14 points. 

The Bronchos started the game on a 7-0 run and continued to lead the rest of the game. The RiverHawks were able to pull within one (34-33) with 11:36 remaining in the game, but UCO went on a 22-6 run to stave off Northeastern State and earn the victory.

Central Oklahoma outrebounded the RiverHawks 40-21. The Bronchos also held the edge in points in the paint (28-20), assists (16-8) and bench points (28-3). NSU had eight turnovers compared to UCO's 18.

Northeastern State will next travel to Emporia, Kansas, to take on Emporia State. The game is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON 
Initial statement…
"Tonight was the same story as a lot of games for us as far as our inability to make some plays offensively. Central Oklahoma was guarding us well and we had opportunities to make some plays and we didn't. We played good defense and our kids played hard. I'm not disappointed with our effort tonight. We played the game with eight turnovers and limited them to eight offensive rebounds. We just didn't make enough shots."
 
On keeping allowing a UCO run after pulling within one point…
"I think we got a little tired. We had a few key players out there that we needed to try to make it work and they got tired. Then the one-point deficit turned into eight pretty quick and then it turned out to be too much to overcome. We spent a lot of energy to get back into the game and couldn't keep it up."
 
On playing road games…
"I think it's a typical thing to play better at home than on the road, particularly with young players. People play better in familiar surroundings. The home team sometimes plays with a little more energy. That's basketball though, you have to be able to play well both home and away and we're still learning how to do that."
 
-GoRiverHawksGo.com-