EMPORIA, Kan. – Northeastern State saw its season come to an end in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament with Emporia State pulling away in the closing minutes to win 72-62 on Monday evening.  

Lauryn Blevins paced the RiverHawks with 17 points and seven rebounds.  Bailee Eldred had 13 with four assists, Miranda Griffin added 11, and Lauren Woods scored ten.

After trailing for the first eight minutes and falling back by eight to the Lady Hornets, Northeastern State controlled the middle section of the half with a 17-3 run.   Following a Griffin bucket with 6:31 left in the second period, the RiverHawks grabbed onto a 23-17 advantage on Emporia State.  The Lady Hornets halted the NSU momentum following a called time out with a 17-5 run of their own to go up 34-28 with a minute remaining.  Griffin closed the half off with a pair of free-throws to send the RiverHawks into the intermission trailing by four.

Hot shooting in the third period kept the RiverHawks within close distance of the Lady Hornets.  Northeastern State would go 9-for-12 from the field with six players lending a hand in the scoring effort.

Heading into the final quarter trailing 56-50, Emporia State would get a jumper to go up by six before Blevins and Griffin cut the lead in half by the eight-minute mark.  The Lady Hornets responded back with a trey that led into a 9-2 run in the next five minutes to extend their lead into double-digits for the first time and NSU could not regain its footing.
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Alexis Hill in her final game of her four-year career had six points, Cenia Hayes scored three, and Joi Bertrand added a bucket with four rebounds.  

Northeastern State will see its season end at 10-17; the Lady Hornets will continue onto the MIAA Quarterfinals to face Fort Hays State on March 1 at noon.