TAHLEQUAH – Cenia Hays paced the RiverHawks with 16 points but they would fall to #4/3 Fort Hays State, 90-66, on Saturday afternoon. 

The loss is the fifth consecutive for NSU who falls to 6-20 overall and 3-14 in the MIAA. 

All nine players who suited up for the contest contributed to the RiverHawks' score.  Cailyn Long had 12 points, Joi Bertrand added eight with three blocks, and Morgan Lee scored seven.

Northeastern State never led but kept its deficit to the Tigers through the first half and trailed 41-32 at the intermission.

A hot third quarter by the Tigers put the RiverHawks out the contest.  Fort Hays State shot 13-for-18 from the field and out-scored NSU by ten during the period. 

Despite the loss, Northeastern State's 66 points were the third most allowed this season by FHSU.  On the shooting side, the RiverHawks went 46.8-percent (22-47), which was the second-best outing for a team facing the Tigers this season. 

Hayes led NSU with four trays made as the RiverHawks also sank a season-best 11 on the Tigers who were ranked first in the NCAA Central Region.

The win is the tenth consecutive for the Tigers who are now 25-1 overall and 16-1 in the MIAA.

TIP-INS
With the win, Fort Hays State clinched the outright MIAA regular season title … the last time NSU had ten or more three-pointers who on Nov. 22, 2017, vs. Southern Arkansas … fifth game this season against the top-25 team … Bertrand has eight consecutive games with a block.

COMING UP
Northeastern State will play a rare Tuesday evening MIAA contest at Central Oklahoma on Feb. 26 for a 5:30 p.m. tip.