JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A big fourth quarter from freshman Cielo McClain and a strong finish by the RiverHawks carried them to a 73-68 road win on Thursday evening at Lincoln (Mo.).
 
McClain had eight of the 19 points in the fourth quarter and the final go-ahead bucket with 1:10 left in the contest.   The freshman finished the evening with 11 points and five rebounds in 13 minutes of action off the RiverHawks' bench.
 
The win over Lincoln snapped a six game road skid for the RiverHawks who will go to 5-13 overall this season and 2-7 in MIAA play.
 
Northeastern State ended the contest on a 13-3 run on Lincoln and scored the game's final six points. 
Neither team had more than a seven-point advantage with the lead exchanging hands 11 times. 
 
Additionally, the RiverHawks survived a night where they nearly doubled the Blue Tigers' turnover total with 19.  Lincoln would outscore NSU 30-to-11 on miscues.
 
Bailee Eldred led the RiverHawks on the floor with her ninth double-double.  The NSU senior scored 19 points and grabbed a career high 15 rebounds.   Cailyn Long and Cenia Hayes both had 15 points in the win.
 
The RiverHawks shot 46-percent on 23-for-50 shooting and they out-rebounded the Blue Tigers by 11 with 41.
 
Thursday's loss will be the sixth in a row for the Blue Tigers who fall to 9-8 overall and 1-7 in the MIAA.
 
TIP-INS
Fourth game in a row that the RiverHawks have out-shot its opponent … Long moved into sole possession of sixth place in the All-Time scoring list and now has 1,104 career points … first win in Jefferson City since 2013 and evens the All-Time series at 4-4 with the Blue Tigers … NSU has had a player with a double-double in four of the last five contests.
 
COMING UP
Northeastern State will face Lindenwood (12-3, 6-2 MIAA) next on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo.