The headline: The RiverHawks will play their second straight game against a ranked program with Central Oklahoma coming to the NSU Event Center at #12 nationally in this week's WBCA Poll. Northeastern State will be rested after having the last week off ending into Saturday's showdown with the Bronchos.
Rylie Torrey has continued her torrid start in a NSU uniform with hitting double-figure scoring in all 16 games she has played. The RiverHawks sophomore is third in overall scoring among MIAA players with 18 points per game. Saturday's contest will feature two of the MIAA's top free-throw programs with UCO and NSU sitting one and two through eight games in league play.
At the line: Northeastern State leads the MIAA and is sixth the nation in free-throw percentage. The RiverHawks entering this weekend's contest are 78.8-percent at the line with
Cailyn Long eighth overall at 90.7-percent, and
Rylie Torrey 14th at 89.2-percent. NSU's best season at the line was in 1990-91 season were they went 75.7-percent during the NAIA era.
Last time out for NSU: Cailyn Long paced the RiverHawks with 22 points but second chance points by #2 Emporia State opened the door for a 71-51 win last Saturday afternoon at the NSU Event Center.
The Lady Hornets had 22 offensive rebounds which they converted into 21 second chance points on the RiverHawks. Northeastern State didn't have a strong shooting afternoon going 29.1-percent (16-55) from the field and they went 5-for-19 at the arc.
Rylie Torrey scored 13 points and
Mary Jane Buschmann added ten off the NSU bench.
Hailey Chamberlin in her first start of the season matched career totals in rebounds and blocks, the NSU sophomore pulled down ten boards, with four blocks.
Northeastern State grabbed 30 off the glass which was 23 less than Emporia State who shot 36.4-percent (24-66) from the field.
Northeastern State (6-10, 2-6 MIAA) vs. Central Oklahoma (16-1, 7-1 MIAA)
Jan. 21, 2017 | 1:30 p.m. | NSU Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Game Notes
The series with Central Oklahoma: The RiverHawks own the series lead 37-23 over the Bronchos with their first meeting coming in during the 1979-80 season. Northeastern State has won four out of their last three contests against UCO and in the last ten, NSU has won seven times.
Last time out for Central Oklahoma: Central Oklahoma led wire-to-wire Tuesday night in a non-conference 67-54 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith.
The Bronchos (16-1) used a strong defensive effort from the outset to fend off Fort Smith and extend their five-game winning streak. Jesheon Cooper led that effort with six blocked shots. Tuesday is the fourth game this season that
Cooper has blocked five shots, and the second time the junior has blocked six in one game. Cooper now has 52 blocked shots this season, second-most in school history.
Scouting Central Oklahoma: The Bronchos are perfect on the road this season in seven contest thanks to a stifling 33.4-percent field goal defense which leads the MIAA and is sixth in the nation. Through 17 games, UCO has averaged 5.1 blocks per outing which is 13th highest in the nation; Jesheon Cooper leads the MIAA in blocked shots with 52, which is also sixth highest nationally. Cooper nearly averages a double-double per outing with 11.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The Bronchos are led by Guy Hardaker who will come to Northeastern State with 199 career wins.
NSU's last time out against Central Oklahoma: A 29 point third quarter gave Central Oklahoma enough of a push to beat the RiverHawks 72-53 in their first meeting this season at the Hamilton Field House.
Mary Jane Buschmann led the RiverHawks with 19 points in her best offensive day since she put up 20 on Jan. 4, 2016 at Northwest Missouri State.
Rylie Torrey had 12 points as NSU's second leading scorer in the contest.
Miranda Griffin led NSU with seven rebounds but the RiverHawks would trail on the glass 42-to-27 with the Bronchos grabbing 13 offensive boards. In second chance points, UCO had 12 with the RiverHawks having three points on five offensive rebounds.
