JOPLIN, Mo. – For the second time this week a late Northeastern State rally came up short, this time falling at Missouri Southern 63-54 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Using a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter, the RiverHawks narrowed a Southern 15 point advantage down five with 1:22 remaining in the contest.  NSU had an opportunity to narrow the gap further in the closing seconds but missed on two shots at the arc, and came up empty at the free throw line. 
 
The ice cold Lions, shooting 2-for-12 in the final ten minutes limped out with the MIAA win extending their lead at the charity stripe.
 
On Wednesday at Pitt State, the RiverHawks trimmed a double-digit lead down to six in the final minutes.
 
Cenia Hayes led the RiverHawks on the floor with a season high 18 points and Cailyn Long scored 15 to bring her career total up to 995. 
 
Northeastern State wound up shooting 15-for-50 on the floor with Missouri Southern going 20-for-57.  The Lions left with a 44-to-32 edge on the glass with NSU having three tied with four rebounds each.  
 
Saturday's loss will send NSU to 2-7 overall (0-2 MIAA), while Southern moves up to 6-3 (1-1 MIAA).
 
THE NUMBERS
10 – Joi Bertrand has recorded a block in her last ten outings.
30 – Eldred missed her second free throw with under two minutes left in the second quarter.  Her streak was at 30 straight made.
 
TIP-INS
Northeastern State wore their alternate green uniforms for the first time in the regular season ... last time NSU wore green was the preseason opener at Oklahoma State … seventh straight away contests for the RiverHawks … true freshman Cielo McClain had a career high six points off the bench on 3-for-4 shooting... Bertrand matched a career high with four blocks … fifth straight loss in Joplin.
 
COMING UP
The RiverHawks will have over a week off until their next contest, which will be at Texas A&M-Commerce to re-kindle the fire against a past Lone Star Conference foe. Tip-off at Commerce will be on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.