Game #22
Northeastern State (6-15, 3-9 MIAA) vs. Central Oklahoma (6-13, 2-8 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center
Opening Tip
- Final game of a three game homestand for the RiverHawks.
- Heading into Saturday's contest, the RiverHawks have the second toughest schedule in the nation with its next seven games having a cumulative .714 winning percentage.
- Northeastern State is 11th nationally with a 77.3 free-throw percentage.
- Bailee Eldred needs 23 points to reach 1,000 accumulative points between Northeastern State and Murray State (Okla.).
- There has been seven double-doubles for NSU this season.
- Cenia Hayes is leading NSU with 13.2 points a game.
- Eldred and Cailyn Long are averaging just over 12 points a game.
- Eldred leads the RiverHawks with 7.9 rebounds per game, and she tied for fourth in the MIAA in boards.
- Eldred has recorded nine double-doubles at NSU.
- Hayes has started in all 21 contests (including exhibitions).
- Bertrand is second in the MIAA in blocks with 48.
RiverHawks vs. Bronchos Series
- One of the oldest series for Northeastern State and dates back to 1978.
- Bronchos have won the last four meetings.
- In MIAA play, NSU trails 3-4.
- Last NSU win at home came was on Dec. 19, 2015 (74-61)
About the Bronchos
- Owns the same last three wins as NSU, beating Missouri Southern, Lincoln, and Southwest Baptist.
- Was ranked as high as number-15 in the D2SIDA National Media Poll.
- 5-5 on the road this season.
- Opened the season at 8-0 and finished the 2018 calendar year at 10-2.
- In 2019, UCO is 4-6.
- Has won four in a row in Tahlequah.
- Bronchos have three players averaging around 11 points a game.
- Ireon Smith leads UCO with 7.3 rebounds a game.
- Near the bottom of the MIAA with 36.4 rebounds per game.
- Led by head coach Guy Hardaker (13th season).
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
- Joi Bertrand's career day helped carry the RiverHawks to 77-71 win over Southwest Baptist on Saturday.
- The NSU senior scored 19 points and matched her career best with five blocks.
- Cenia Hayes was an assist short of a double-double with 17 points and six rebounds.
- The RiverHawks never trailed more than three points to the Bearcats on Saturday.
- An 11 point third quarter from Bertrand who helped tip the scales toward NSU.
- Seventh game this season for Bertrand to have four or more blocks.
- Second straight home win for NSU over the Bearcats.
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.
- Moved to sixth all-time at NSU with 15 points a Lincoln
- 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 574 rebounds and 977 points. In the NSU record book, only eight players have surpassed 500 career rebounds.
- Recorded her ninth double-double with a career high 15 rebounds at Lincoln.
- 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.
- 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. In four combined playing seasons, she has 163 blocks which would be most all-time in the RiverHawks' record book.
- Second in conference play with 2.4 blocks a game.
- Matched at career high with five blocks vs. Southwest Baptist.
- 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.
