Games #1/2
Northeastern State (10-17, 6-13 MIAA last season) vs. East Central (10-17, 9-13 GAC last season) / Northwestern Okla. (12-16, 8-14 GAC last season)
ECU Series Record: NSU leads 21-19
NWOSU Series Record: Tied at 17-17Â
Nov. 9/10, 2018 at 5 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center
Opening TipÂ
- Northeastern State opens season at home for the first time since 2014 when they last hosted the MIAA/GAC Challenge.
- The RiverHawks are 5-3 in the MIAA/GAC Challenge games.
- The 2015-16 season was the last time NSU when 2-0 in the season opening challenge.
- Only two home games prior to Christmas for the RiverHawks.
RiverHawks vs. Tigers Series
- First meeting between the two programs since Feb. 2011 when they were members of the Lone Star Conference.
- Northeastern State has won the last four meetings and leads the series 31-29.
- In Tahlequah the RiverHawks are 21-10.
- Only one overtime period played which was a 77-71 East Central win in Ada on Jan. 18, 1992.
About the Tigers
- Opened the season with a 101-46 exhibition loss to Arkansas.
- Lakin Preisner is the lone returner to average over 10 points per game. Â The senior had 13.6 points per outing one year ago.
- Preisner was ranked first in the NCAA and the GAC in Free Throw Percentage - 956 (65-68) overall
- Was picked ninth in the GAC after finishing 10-17 overall last season.
- Head Coach Matt Cole in a NSU Alumni and spent 11 seasons as an assistant for Randy Gipson.
RiverHawks vs. Lady Rangers Series
- Northeastern State has won the last five meetings and has not lost to NWOSU.
- Last loss to the Lady Rangers was in the OIC Tournament Quarterfinals in Tahlequah on March 4, 1997 (70-67).
- Northwestern Oklahoma leads the road series 8-7.
- One visit to the NSU Event Center that resulted in a 67-45 win for the RiverHawks on Nov. 14, 2014.Â
- Series is even at 17-17.
About the Lady Rangers
- Picked to finish in tenth in the GAC with a 12-16 record.
- Opened the season with a 77-62 exhibition loss to Tabor (NAIA).
- Returns Jade Jones who is All-GAC Honorable Mention after leading NWOSU with 13.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.
- Redshirt-Junior Kalea King returns after two seasons off, she was the GAC Freshman of the Year in 2014-15.
- Led by third year head coach Tasha Diesselhorst.
Looking Back
- Bailee Eldred paced the RiverHawks with 11 points on Monday at Oklahoma.
- Northeastern State trailed 20-19 to the Sooners at the 3:53 mark in the first quarter.
- The RiverHawks committed 34 turnovers and the Sooners scored 54 points off those.
- Northeastern State was the lone team outside of Big 12 play to have Oklahoma and Oklahoma State scheduled.
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 will open her senior season 115 points away from Northeastern State's 1,000 point club. Â 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.
- Started and had four points and four rebounds in the exhibition at Oklahoma State.
- Played 20 minutes at Oklahoma and had seven points.
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 408 rebounds and 717 points.  In the NSU record book, only eight players have surpassed 500 career rebounds
- 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. Â Bertrand had 42 blocks which was fifth most in a season in program history. Â In three combined playing seasons, she has 110 blocks which would be third most all-time in the RiverHawks' record book.
- Scored eight points and led NSU with seven rebounds at Oklahoma.
