Game #5/6 (at Azusa, Calif.)
Northeastern State (1-3) vs. Biola (1-3) | Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at 3 p.m.
Northeastern State at (21/RV) Azusa Pacific (3-1) | Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 at 5 p.m.
Opening Tip
- First games in California in the NCAA Division II era for the RiverHawks.
- First meeting with both opponents.
- Lone games in the regular season that take place in a different timezone.
- Bailee Eldred leads the RiverHawks in scoring with 12.8 points a game and rebounding at 6.5 a game.
- Cailyn Long is second in scoring with an 11.3 ppg after the opening four games of the season.
- Joi Bertrand, Bailee Eldred, Cenia Hayes, and Cailyn Long have started in all six contests.
- Joi Bertrand is second in the MIAA in blocks with 11.
Homecoming
Joi Bertrand,
Julia Hill, and
Maddie Morrow were all transfers to NSU from California. Head Coach
Fala Bullock, a California native, took a similar route to NSU and was a junior college transfer from Irvine Valley in California.
About Biola
- Jazz Benn leads Biola with 11.8 points a game.
- Over half of their shots come from long range with the Eagles attempting 109 three-pointers.
- At the line they are 56-percent (28-50)
- Beat La Sierra, 86-54 the last time they were on the floor on Nov. 17 for their first win of the season. Also broke a program record with 17 made treys in the game.
- Picked to finish sixth in the PacWest after going 14-12 last season overall. This was also the program's first season as a NCAA Division II full member.
- Under the guidance of head coach Alan Nakamura who is in his fourth season at Biola.
About Azusa Pacific
- Ranked #21 in the WBCA poll and is picking up votes in the D2SIDA poll.
- Picked to win the PacWest after claiming a co-regular season championship last season.
- Qualified as an at-large for last season's NCAA Tournament.
- Suffered their first loss of the season on an overtime three-pointer to Western Washington, 77-74.
- Led by Savanna Hanson who has a pair of double-doubles. Averaging 16 points a game and nine rebounds through four games this season.
- Under the guidance of head coach T.J. Hardeman who is in his 12th season. Owns a 265-93 overall record at APU and led the Cougars to a NAIA National Championship in 2011.
Looking Back
- Led 39-30 at the a half on Monday at Oklahoma Baptist.
- Shot 2-for-28 in the season half.
- Bailee Eldred led NSU with 19 points with eight rebounds.
- Joi Bertrand had four blocks to match her career high.
- Cailyn Long scored all 11 of her points in the opening quarter.
Ignoring the Polls
Out of 14 teams, Northeastern State was picked 12th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches poll and 13th the media.
Closing on 1,000
Cailyn Long is 70 points away from joining Northeastern State's 1,000 point club. The Sparta, Mo. is a two-time All-MIAA selection and has averaged 11.3 points a game in her three-year career at NSU.
- Had her eighth career 20+ point game against Northwestern Oklahoma.
- Started and had four points and four rebounds in the exhibition at Oklahoma State.
- Played 20 minutes at Oklahoma and had seven points.
Super Senior
Destiny Strange will return to the NSU squad as a redshirt-senior in 2018-19. The Arlington, Texas native was having a career season averaging 11.1 points in the first eight contests. Her season was cut short in the opening minute of the eighth game at home against Central Oklahoma on Dec. 5.
- Made the start in the season opener at Oklahoma State and played 22 minutes.
- Started at Oklahoma and was on 2-for-8 from the field.
- Strange has played in 71 contests and started 21.
- Was a point and rebound short of a double-double in the season opener with East Central.
Crashing the Boards
Bailee Eldred paced the RiverHawks with 138 rebounds last season and had four double-double contests. In her collegiate career between NSU and Murray State, Eldred has 434 rebounds and 768 points. In the NSU record book, only eight players have surpassed 500 career rebounds.
- Pulled down a season high nine rebounds at Rogers State.
- When 9-9 at the free-throw line with a career high 21 points vs. Northwestern Oklahoma.
- Eldred led Northeastern State with 11 points at OSU and at Oklahoma.
Block the Ball
Joi Bertrand returns to NSU for her senior season after finishing third in the MIAA in blocks per game at 1.5. Bertrand had 49 blocks which was fifth most in a season in program history. In four combined playing seasons, she has 121 blocks which would be second most all-time in the RiverHawks' record book.
- Matched a career high of four blocks in the season opener against East Central at a Oklahoma Baptist.
- Scored eight points and led NSU with seven rebounds at Oklahoma.
