JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost 73-55 to Missouri Southern State in the first round of the 2016 MIAA Championship Monday night inside Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
The RiverHawks, seeded No. 11 in the tournament, ended their season with an 8-21 record, while the No. 6-seeded Lions (18-11) advanced to the quarterfinals of the postseason event.
 
Junior guard Caley Shaffstall scored a career-high 13 points to lead NSU. Senior guard Kate Bellamy added 12 in her final collegiate game, which came on the same day she was named to the 2016 All-MIAA Honorable Mention team. True freshman guard Kylie Looney chipped in 10 points for the green and white.
 
Northeastern State shot 42.2 percent (19-for-45) from the field, 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from distance and 87.5 percent (7-for-8) at the charity stripe. The Lions shot 52 percent (26-for-50) overall, 50 percent (11-for-22) from behind the 3-point line and 83.3 percent (10-for-12) at the free-throw line.
 
Kayla Kivinski came off the bench to lead all scorers with 15 points, while Deb Holcomb added 13 for MSSU. Dru Clark scored 12 and Jenson Maydew chipped in 11 off the bench.
 
Missouri Southern State led in rebounding (31-22), assists (17-12), steals (6-2), points in the paint (28-16), points off turnovers (12-8), fast-break points (4-0), bench points (36-15), and fewer turnovers (7-11). The two teams had one block each.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-