Game 17: Northeastern State (8-8, 4-5 MIAA) vs. Missouri Southern (10-8, 7-3 MIAA) at 5:30 p.m. | January 24, 2018
Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center
The Series
The Wednesday meeting will be the 30th between Northeastern State and Missouri Southern and dates back to the 1978-79 season. Northeastern State has lost five in a row to the Lions with the series home friendly for both programs, and NSU holding a 10-2 advantage in Tahlequah. Since joining the MIAA, the RiverHawks are 2-5 when facing Missouri Southern, and hold a slim 15-14 series advantage.
The Coaches
Fala Bullock is in her first season as head coach and was named to lead her alma mater on April 1, 2017 to replace Randy Gipson who retired after 18 years. With six years of head coaching experience, Bullock is 106-82 overall and within conference play she is 65-57. She has spent the last four seasons (2013-17) as head coach at NCAA Division II Armstrong State University, where she recorded a career mark of 60-52. In her first season at Armstrong State, she led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, and reached the Sweet 16.
Bullock played for Gipson for two seasons, and was a graduate assistant under Gipson from 2004 to 2006. As student-athlete, Bullock played in 57 games and NSU went 36-19, winning the 2003 Lone Star Conference Tournament, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. As a member of Gipson's coaching staff, NSU reached the Sweet 16 in 2004, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006.
Ronnie Ressel (22-25) was named the head women's basketball coach on March 16, 2017 after serving three years as an assistant and one year as an interim head coach. In year one at the helm of the Lions women, Ressel helped the team to a 12-17 mark and a trip to the MIAA Tournament.
Last Time Out for NSU
Northeastern State's offense struggled out of the gates and #19 Central Oklahoma ran past the RiverHawks 81-55 on Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House. NSU didn't have a player in double-digits with
Bailee Eldred and
Miranda Griffin both having nine points against the Bronchos.
Tree Brooks gave NSU their only lead of the afternoon on a layup in the opening minute, and the Bronchos would follow up with an eight point run. After one half of play, NSU trailed 39-20, and landed 8-of-29 shots from the field.
Last Time Out for MSSU
The Missouri Southern women's basketball team out-scored visiting Emporia State 38-27 in the second half and took out the Lady Hornets 62-55 on Saturday at Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern got a solid game from Chelsey Henry as she scored 19 points and went 6-9 from the free throw line.
Wednesday Success
Northeastern State is 2-0 this season in their mid-week contests. Both games were in the friendly confines of the NSU Event Center where they beat Rogers State (79-66) on Nov. 15 and Southern Arkansas (86-76) the week following.
100
Alexis Hill made her 100th appearance in a Northeastern State uniform last time out against Central Oklahoma. The NSU senior point guard from Garland, Texas has started in 76 contests and averaged 27.1 minutes during her 3+ seasons.
Coming Up
Northeastern State will remain at home to host Pittsburg State this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
