SHAWNEE – A cold shooting second half by the RiverHawks sent them to a 68-50 loss on Monday evening at Oklahoma Baptist. Northeastern State shot 2-for-28 in the final 20 minutes after holding a 39-30 advantage over the Lady Bison at the intermission.
The loss will send NSU to 1-3 overall while Oklahoma Baptist will go to 3-1.
Bailee Eldred paced the RiverHawks for the second evening in a row with 19 points, one off from matching her career mark. The NSU senior also added eight rebounds, and had three steals.
Cailyn Long scored 11, all of which came in the first quarter as NSU second leading scorer.
Northeastern State opened the game with ten straight unanswered points and led as many as 14 in the first quarter.
The Lady Bison shot 56.6-percent (17-30) in the second half and where spurred by junior-transfer Autumn Avina who flirted with a triple-double, scoring 23 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds.
Cenia Hayes had nine points and five rebounds;
Joi Bertrand pulled six off the glass, and matched her career mark with four blocks.
TURNING POINT
Leading by ten (42-32) with 8:20 in the third quarter, the RiverHawks missed its next 15 shots from the field. Oklahoma Baptist finished the period on a 21-3 run and never looked back.
IN THE BOX
- The Lady Bison controlled the paint outscoring the RiverHawks, 44-8.
- Northeastern State was edged on the glass 42-38 but led by six on the offense side with 14 rebounds.
- NSU finished the evening shooting 15-for-62 from the field.
COMING UP
Northeastern State will head the west coast after Thanksgiving for two games in California. The RiverHawks face Biola on Friday at 3 p.m., then Azusa Pacific on Saturday at 5 p.m.
