TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State rallied back from a ten-point fourth quarter deficit only to fall 73-70 in the closing seconds to Nebraska-Kearney in their final home game of the season. 

Cailyn Long was a catalyst for NSU in the final ten minutes scoring 13 of her 15 points on the Lopers.  Rylie Torrey led the RiverHawks with 19 but the sophomore dropped 11 with the two accounting of for all but three of the team's points in that final period.   

The Lopers were up 70-61 with 31 seconds to go before Long hit a trey, on the next possession the RiverHawks extended the clock, and fouled UNK where they missed their first-of-two free-throws.   With a seven-point lead, Long went back and dropped a layup while being fouled to convert the old-fashioned three-point play to get NSU within 71-67.  The Lopers called a timeout and NSU fouled once again and UNK this time made both free throws to widen the gap to six.   Long kept the RiverHawks alive and dropped another trey with seven seconds left but they couldn't foul UNK to stop the game as time expired.

Northeastern State nearly doubled their points from last Saturday's meeting with Kearney and the 71 points was the most by NSU since Jan. 5, 2017 at Lindenwood.  From the field the RiverHawks shot 41.7-percent (25-60) and dropped 12 three-pointers which was the second most this season. 

Miranda Griffin led the RiverHawks with seven boards as NSU had a 34-to-33 rebounding edge on the Lopers.  Griffin also had a big afternoon on the scoring side with 14 points and four assists.  Mary Jane Buschmann, NSU's lone senior had 11 points and five boards in her final game at the NSU Event Center.

UNK (11-14, 7-10 MIAA) led from start-to-finish with McKenzie Brown having a game high 22 points. 

The RiverHawkws will fall to 6-19 overall and 2-15 in MIAA play, they will travel on the road this upcoming Thursday to face Emporia State.