The headline:  Northeastern State closes out the regular season with a Kansas visit to Emporia State and Washburn.  This week's games will be aired on Lakes Country FM 102.1 and all contests are carried live on the NSU audio broadcast portal which can be found on GoRiverHawksGo.com.  Rylie Torrey paces the RiverHawks in scoring with 16.8 points a game which is fifth highest in the MIAA.  The NSU sophomore has scored 10+ points in 24-of-25 games this season.

At the line: Rylie Torrey is pacing the league at the free-throw line shooting 89.0-percent. At the national level, the RiverHawks are 29th best shooting 76.2-percent as a team, with Torrey ninth overall. 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: 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.

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Northeastern State (6-19, 2-15 MIAA) at #13 Emporia State (22-4, 13-4 MIAA)
Feb. 23, 2017 | 5:30 p.m. | Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Game Notes

The series with Emporia State: The RiverHawks trail the overall series 10-5 with the Lady Hornets.  Northeastern State has dropped their last three outings against Emporia State with the last win coming in at ESU in a 58-56 overtime thriller during the 2014-15 season. 

Last time out for Emporia State: The #13 Lady Hornets improved to 22-4 on the season, 13-4 in the MIAA with an 84-67 win Thursday night at home against Southwest Baptist. Kathryn Flott had career highs 31 points and 19 rebounds to lead Emporia State.

Emporia State shot 25 for 32 from the line, Kelly Moten shot 14 for 16 and Flott a perfect six for six on the night. Flott led all players with a career high 31 points and a career high 19 rebounds, nine offensive, shooting 12 for 19 from the field. Moten followed with 24 points with six assists and six rebounds. Addie Lackey joined in double digits with 13 points. Jacee Kramer had four assists. The Lady Hornets out-rebounded the Bearcats 45-29.

Flott's 19 rebounds is the most from a Lady Hornet since Merissa Quick's 20 rebounds in a 61-48 upset of #5 Washburn in 2013.

Scouting Emporia State: The Lady Hornets have spent multiple weeks as NCAA Division II's top-ranked team and will enter Thursday's contest at clocked in at number-13.  On their home floor, ESU hasn't lost a game this season, and has won 18 straight.  Empoira State leads the MIAA in ten different statistical categories and they second the nation in blocked shots (150), along with rebounding margin (13.8).   With 79.7 points per game, Empoira State is 11th in the nation in scoring, Kelly Moten is second in the MIAA with 18.7 points per game, and third in assists with 4.3 per game.  Moten has been sent to the line 171 times which is the most in the MIAA and 15th most in Division II women's basketball.

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Northeastern State vs. Washburn (16-10, 9-8 MIAA)
Feb. 25, 2017 | 1:30 p.m. | Topeka, Kan.
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio | Game Notes

The series with Washburn: This will be the tenth overall meeting between Washburn and the RiverHawks where NSU trails the series 5-4.  At Northeastern State, the RiverHawks have an even series in four meetings; WU won in both contests last season.

Last time out for Washburn: This will be the eleventh overall meeting between Washburn and the RiverHawks where NSU trails the series 6-4.

Reagan Phelan lead all players with 21 points, converting 7-of-14 attempts from the field and all five attempts from the line. Phelan also dished out a game-best five assists. Alyxis Bowens and Erika Lane meanwhile followed with 15 and 14 points respectively. Lane went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe and pulled down a game-high eight boards.  

Aside from its 3-of-11 shooting (27.3 percent) in the third, Washburn averaged 47.6 percent shooting during the other third quarters. SBU edged out WU in shooting 43.8 to 43.4. The teams tied in rebounding with 30 apiece.

Scouting Washburn: Washburn has dropped their last two games and in Topeka, they are 9-6 on their home floor.  The Ichabods are fourth in the MIAA in field-goal percentage on offense and defense.  Alyxis Bowens leads the league with a 58.5-percentage from the field and it is eight in the national.  Bowens has 39 blocks this season which is third most in the MIAA she also leads Washburn in scoring with 12.9 points per outing.   Jharian Bowen, Reagan Phelan, and Erika Lane both average just over ten points per game with Land dishing out a 3.4 average in assists.  Washburn will be hosting Central Oklahoma on Thursday before facing Northeastern State.