TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team dropped an 88-57 decision to No. 8 Missouri Western State Thursday night inside the NSU Event Center.
 
Despite the loss, the RiverHawks (7-16, 4-13 MIAA) remained in 11th place in the conference standings, while the Griffons (22-2, 16-2 MIAA) stayed atop the league table.
 
Senior guard Kate Bellamy led NSU with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. She filled the stat sheet with three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes. True freshman forward Hailey Chamberlin netted a career-high 11 points.
 
Northeastern State shot 40.4 percent (21-for-52) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-for-17) from behind the 3-point line and 73.3 percent (11-for-15) at the free-throw line. Missouri Western State shot 69.4 percent (34-for-49) overall, 58.3 percent (7-for-12) from distance and 68.4 percent (13-for-19) at the stripe.
 
LaQuinta Jefferson led all scorers with 21 points, while Sarafina Handy added 16. The duo was a combined 15-for-18 from the field. Dwanisha Tate contributed 10 points off the bench.
 
MWSU led in rebounding (31-18), assists (21-17), steals (9-6), points in the paint (50-26), points off turnovers (18-14), second-chance points (2-0), fast-break points (22-0) and bench points (29-17). NSU led in fewer turnovers (15-16) and blocks (3-0).
 
The RiverHawks will remain home for a 1:30 p.m. contest Feb. 13 against Northwest Missouri State.

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