TAHLEQUAH – Cenia Hayes collected her third career 20-point game but turnovers spoiled a comeback bid in a 63-49 Northeastern State loss to Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon.
 
The RiverHawks erased a 15-point deficit on the Griffons and got within four near the end of the third quarter.   However, nine NSU turnovers doomed them in the final ten minutes with Missouri Western scoring 13 of their 20 points on miscues. 
 
Northeastern State committed a season high 29 turnovers and the Griffons capitalized, outscoring them 36-to-17. 
 
Hayes finished the afternoon with a game high 20 points and was 11-for-12 at the free throw line.  The sophomore also had four rebounds and four steals.   Cailyn Long added 11 points and five rebounds.  Joi Bertrand had a career high five blocks and a game high eight rebounds.
 
Outside of turnovers, NSU had the shooting and rebounding edge on the Griffons.  RiverHawks went 14-for-31 from the field while having five more off the glass with 28. 
 
Brittany Atkins led the Griffons with 19 points as they go to 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA.  Northeastern State falls to 3-10 and 0-4 in league play with the loss.
 
THE NUMBERS
3 – Third straight game that NSU has out-rebounded a team.
6 – Bertrand tied her career mark for blocks six times before breaking the mark on Saturday.
 
TIP-INS
First time this season NSU wore its grey alternates … Bertrand tied the MIAA season high for blocks in a game with five others … Bailee Eldred scored eight points and went 2-for-2 at the free throw line to bring her season average to 92.7-percent, which remains on top of the league … following the contest Long was honored for 1,000 career points, the senior reached the milestone on Dec. 18 at Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
COMING UP
Northeastern State will head on his furthest MIAA trip next and will face Fort Hays State on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tip.