TAHLEQUAH – A second-half rally came up short for Northeastern State in a 69-64 loss to Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday evening inside the NSU Event Center. 

Cenia Hayes paced the RiverHawks with 16 points and seven rebounds.  Freshman Maegan Lee scored a career-high 15 points off the bench.  Joi Bertrand was NSU's third player in double-figures with 11 points and she also had a career-high seven blocks.

The loss is NSU's fourth consecutive as they will fall to 6-19 this season and 3-13 in the MIAA.  With three games remaining in the regular season, the RiverHawks are two games back on Missouri Southern for the tenth and final spot into the MIAA Tournament.  

The RiverHawks recovered from a four-point opening period and a 19-point deficit to the Lopers thanks to a big third quarter.   Bertrand created chaos for UNK inside the paint with six blocks during the period.  Northeastern State took advantage with 11 unanswered points and outscoring the Lopers 11-to-0 on turnovers. 

By the end of the third quarter, NSU trimmed the Lopers lead the five (48-43). 

In the final period, the RiverHawks would get within four with 7:45 left thanks to a Hayes trey.  However, the Lopers followed that bucket with a 9-2 run which NSU could not recover from.

Northeastern State finished the evening shooting 37.7-percent on the floor on 20-53 shooting.  Bailee Eldred had nine points with six rebounds and Cailyn Long added seven.  

Nebraska-Kearney with the win goes to 15-10 and 8-8 in the MIAA.

COMING UP 
Northeastern State will host Fort Hays State on Saturday for Senior Day.  Tip-off will be at 1:30 p.m. with the program's senior class being honored following the contest. 

TIP-INS 
Bertrand's block total is the second highest this season in the MIAA and one short of matching the NSU single-game high … NSU was called for a season-high 26 fouls by officials … Lopers out-rebounded NSU by six with 36 … Lopers completed the season sweep of the RiverHawks.