Game #17
Northeastern State (4-12, 1-6 MIAA) vs. Pittsburg State (14-2, 6-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 19 at 12:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center
Opening Tip
- Bailee Eldred is leading the nation carrying a 94.0 free throw percentage. Cenia Hayes is in third holding a 92.3 free throw percentage.
- A RiverHawks' player has had a double-double in the last three contests.
- There has been six double-doubles for NSU this season.
- NSU has out-rebounded teams in four of the last six games.
- Hayes is ninth in MIAA play in scoring at 15.3 points an outing. She leads the RiverHawks overall in scoring with 13.2 points.
- In MIAA rebounding, Hayes is ninth with 7.5 a game and first in free throw percentage at 97.0.
- Cailyn Long is second in scoring with 12.2 ppg, she has two 20 point games in the last two weeks.
- Long needs ten points to move up to sixth in NSU's all-time scoring list.
- Eldred leads the RiverHawks with 7.5 rebounds per game, and she is eighth in the MIAA in boards.
- Hayes has started in all 16 contests (including exhibitions).
- Bertrand leads MIAA in blocks with 41, which is also tied for 14th nationally.
RiverHawks vs. Gorillas Series
- Game number-31 in a series that started in 1981.
- Pitt State has won the last nine meetings.
- In Tahlequah, the RiverHawks lead the series 6-4.
- Last win at NSU was one Jan. 13, 2013 (65-50).
About the Gorillas
- Pitt State will head to Tahlequah on a three game winning streak.
- Away form Pittsburg they are 5-2 this season.
- Edged out Central Oklahoma on Thursday, 62-60.
- Beat the RiverHawks in the first meeting, 75-65 in Pittsburg.
- Gorillas average a MIAA best 77.7 points a game in conference play.
- Six players average over seven points a game.
- Led in scoring by Shelby Lopez who has 12.3 points a game.
- Athena Alvarado leads the Gorillas in rebounding with 6.9 a game and is second in scoring with 10.9 an outing.
- Led by first year head coach Amanda Davied, who has served the past 14 seasons as the assistant coach.
Big Runs
Top runs of ten or more consecutive for the RiverHawks
23-0 - 7:02 vs. Bacone (12/30/18)
17-0 - 5:23 vs. Bacone (12/30/18)^
14-0 - 3:16 at Azusa Pacific (11/24/18)
12-0 - 4:34 vs. Bacone (12/30/18)
11-0 - 3:44 at Nebraska-Kearney (1/12/18)
11-0 - 3:04 vs. Bacone (12/30/18)
10-0 - 1:24 vs. Bacone (12/30/18)
10-0 - 5:51 at Missouri Southern (12/8/18)
10-0 - 4:34 at Oklahoma Baptist (11/19/18)*
10-0 - 3:59 at Rogers State (11/14/18)
* - start of game
Looking Back
- Cailyn Long hit a game winning layup to cap a 66-64 overtime thriller for the RiverHawks on Thursday evening to beat Missouri Southern inside the NSU Event Center.
- Long's shot with three seconds remaining snapped a four game skid for NSU and gave them a critical MIAA win.
- Joi Bertrand was the unsung hero of the night where the senior grabbed a game changing offensive rebound that led to Long's game winner.
- Bertrand finished the night with nine rebounds, six points, and three rebounds.
- Thursday's finish overshadowed a career evening from Bailee Eldred who recorded her eighth double-double. The senior recorded a career high 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting and ten rebounds.
High Marks
On Dec. 30, 2018 the RiverHawks broke a facility mark with 126 points scored against Bacone College. This record is for both men's and women's programs. Below is a series of records that NSU tied for broke on that afternoon.
- 75 points in a half (MIAA record).
- 45 points in the second quarter (MIAA record).
- 91 shot attempts (NSU record).
- 126 points tied program mark and is second all-time in MIAA women's basketball history.
Seventh to 1,000
On Dec. 18 at Texas A&M-Commerce,
Cailyn Long became Northeastern State's seventh member 1,000 point club in women's basketball. The Sparta, Mo. native is a two-time All-MIAA selection and has averaged 11.4 points a game in her four-year career at NSU.
- Had the eventual game winning layup in overtime to beat Missouri Southern, 66-64.
- Went 9-for-17 at Nebraska-Kearney for 21 points.
- Scored 12 points in the fourth quarter against Northwest Missouri for her ninth 20 point game.
- Had her eighth career 20+ point game against Northwestern Oklahoma.
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 518 rebounds and 906 points. In the NSU record book, only eight players have surpassed 500 career rebounds.
- Scored a career high 25 points with ten boards against Missouri Southern on Jan. 17.
- Netted her seventh double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds at Fort Hays State.
- Sixth double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds against Bacone.
- Recorded her fifth double-double at NSU with a 16 point and 12 rebound performance at Pitt State.
- Quietly stealthy at the free-throw line going 92.5-percent, which is a MIAA best.
- 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 50 blocks which was fifth most in a season in program history. In four combined playing seasons, she has 151 blocks which would be most all-time in the RiverHawks' record book.
- Leads the MIAA in conference play with 3.2 blocks a game.
- Set a career best with five blocks against Missouri Western.
- Has recorded a block in the first nine games of the season.
- Matched a career high of four blocks in the season opener against East Central, at Oklahoma Baptist, and at UA-Fort Smith.
- Scored eight points and led NSU with seven rebounds at Oklahoma.
