JOPLIN, Mo. – Northeastern State could not keep up with a hot shooting Missouri Southern squad who knocked down 14 treys on Wednesday night in Joplin as the RiverHawks fell 74-53.

Rylie Torrey led NSU with 16 points with 11 coming in the first half but it was the fourth quarter that spoiled Wednesday night's road trip with Missouri Southern outscoring Northeastern State 23-to-8.  Cailyn Long was NSU's second leading scorer with 14 points but left in the third quarter with an injury.

Missouri Southern out-rebounded Northeastern State 34-to-22 with Torrey leading the RiverHawks with six.  The Lions with 14 three-pointers matched a program high as they shot 49.1-percent (26-53) against the RiverHawks; on the other side of the floor, NSU was 43.5-percent (20-46).

Northeastern State led for the majority of the first half and went up by seven points thanks to eight unanswered points to go up 21-14 with 6:47 left in the second period.  However, the Lions got hot at the arc with five treys and overtook NSU with a slim 33-31 lead at the intermission.  Missouri Southern got off nine three-pointers to shoot 44.4-percent (12-27) overall at the half, Northeastern State went 46.2-percent (12-26) with Torrey leading all scorers with 11 points.

Following a Long trey to open the second half, the Lions went on a 14-5 run on the RiverHawks to pull ahead 49-38 with 4:19 left in the third period.  NSU closed on the Southern lead with Destiny Strange jumper and a Torrey trey to get within six, 51-46, to start the fourth quarter.

Northeastern State hit a cold spell in the final ten minutes and a 19-5 run by the Lions sent the RiverHawks to their fifth loss in a row.

Missouri Southern had three in double figures with Chelsey Henry leading MSSU with 15 points; the win will send the Lions to 11-9 and 6-5 in the MIAA.  Northeastern State with the loss on Wednesday falls to 6-12 in 2-8 MIAA play.

The RiverHawks will return to the floor on Saturday to visit Pittsburg State with the opening tip scheduled at 1:30 p.m.