Northeastern State vs. Rogers State
Nov. 16, 2016 | 5:30 p.m. | Claremore, Okla.
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Notes

The Headline: Northeastern State will be making their second ever trip to the Claremore Expo Center to play Rogers State.  Wednesday's trip will be NSU's closest road contest this season and it will be the third year in a row that they have played RSU.  Despite the close distance this will be the third ever meeting between the two programs with the series tied at 1-1.  The Hillcats restarted its athletic programs in 2007 and officially joined the NCAA as a full-time member this fall.
 
Last time out for NSU: The RiverHawks split their games in Edmond at the MIAA/GAC Challenge with NSU picking up a win over Northwestern Oklahoma. Cailyn Long averaged 19 points in the two games and Mary Jane Buschmann had over ten rebounds in both games in her return to the floor.  Rylie Torrey made her debut in a RiverHawks uniform averaging 15.5 points in the two games.  After the first weekend of play Buschmann is second in the nation in defensive rebounds per game for the RiverHawks. 

Last time out for Rogers State: The Hillcats split their contests last weekend playing all the way in Las Vegas, N.M. to play at New Mexico Highlands.  Rogers State won their opener 52-49 over New Mexico Highlands but fell on the next night to WNMU 63-61. In the western plains, RSU averaged just over 56 points while shooting about 35-percent from the field.  The Hillcats struggled at the line at 45-percent and shot 23-percent from long range.

Scouting Rogers State: Rogers State played in two exhibitions prior to the start of their season at Tulsa and Oral Roberts.  The Hillcats fell to the Golden Hurricane 86-39 and lost to the Golden Eagles 77-60.  Prior to the start of the season, RSU was picked to place sixth in the Heartland Conference after going 14-12 overall last season.  RSU returns three starters from last season with Natasha Kindred as its top returning player averaging 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

600: Head Coach Randy Gipson hit his 600th career win on Nov. 13, 2016 by beating Northwestern Oklahoma 82-67 in Edmond, Okla. at the MIAA/GAC Challenge.  In his 28th year as a head coach, Gipson owns a 600-262 career record, and he is 310-185 through 18 years at Northeastern State.  

NJCAA ALL-American: Gipson added 2016 NJCAA All-American Rylie Torrey who comes to NSU as a sophomore from NOC-Enid.  Torrey led the nation in free-throw percentage (94.7 percent), was second in the country in 3-point field goals made (114) and was 15th in scoring (17.0 ppg). She tallied shooting percentages of 40.1 (187-for-466) overall and 38.4 (114-for-297) from behind the 3-point arc, and she was 90-for-95 at the free-throw line.

Pick 11: Northeastern State was selected eleventh in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll that was announced on Thursday by league officials.  The RiverHawks picked up 43 points in the poll that was conducted among the league's 14 head coaches.

Returning 7: NSU returns seven from the 2015-16 season with only one graduating senior.  However, due to several injuries Alexis Hill is NSU's lone returner to play in all 29 contests.