Game #6
Northeastern State (2-3 in MIAA) at Fort Hays State (3-0 in MIAA)
Friday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. | Hays, Kansas
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The RiverHawks continue their road trip throughout December taking on the Tigers of Fort Hays in search of their first win away from home of the campaign. They resume play after taking 13-day break for final exams.
Opening tip
• The game is played Friday due to Fort Hays State's final exam schedule. It is the first Friday contest this season for NSU.
• Northeastern State is fifth in the MIAA scoring 71.2 points per contest.
• The RiverHawks are shooting 43.3 percent from the field, but the Tigers only allow 38.0 percent.
• Northeastern State is seeking its first victory in Hays.
• Northeastern State is fifth in the MIAA scoring 71.2 points per contest.
• The RiverHawks are converting at the free throw line at the second-best clip in the conference, 82.1 percent.
• Both teams assist on made baskets; FHSU ranks first, NSU third.
• The leading scorers, seniors Hayes and Randall, are within 0.5 points of each other.
• Jaden Hobbs (4.0) and Hayes (3.4) are the top pickpockets in the MIAA. The game has potential for multiple fast breaks.
•
Zaria Collins is expected to return to the lineup for the RiverHawks after missing the previous three games.
• Fort Hays allows 25 percent of its capacity. It leads the conference in home attendance although it has only played one contest in Hays thus far.
The series with Fort Hays State
• Northeastern State has dropped the last 14 games in the series and has never won in Hays.
• The RiverHawks last won on Jan. 18, 2014.
• The teams first met in 1982 and then did not play for each other for 30 seasons.
• As a head coach at NSU,
Fala Bullock is 0-6 vs. the Tigers.
About the Tigers
• Fort Hays was picked fifth in the preseason coaches poll.
• The Tigers don't often fall at home and are 45-4 dating back to the 2017-18 season at Gross Memorial Stadium.
• The Tigers score the second-most points per contest in the MIAA and boast a 15.7 point margin per game. Additionally, they lead the conference with 14.7 assists per contest.
• Fort Hays forces 18.0 turnovers per game to lead the conference and is second stealing the ball 9.3 times per game.
• The Tigers are led by senior Whitney Randall who averages 17.3 points per game. Fellow senior Jaden Hobbs joins her in double figures with 12.7 per contest.
• They are fresh off an 81-60 victory at Central Oklahoma.
Looking back
•
Shae Sanchez and
Cenia Hayes both scored 20-plus points in the 84- 82 setback at Pitt State in NSU's final game before taking a break for finals. The last time two players scored over 20 was Nov. 10, 2017.
• The RiverHawks shot 52.3 percent, assisted on 18 made baskets, and forced eight steals, all season-highs.
• Northeastern State was out-rebounded by 12 and allowed 50.8 percent shooting.
• Scoring 82 points tied for the season-high output, the most in a MIAA contest since Jan. 5, 2013 for NSU.
Milestone watch
• Sophomore
Zaria Collins, who has missed the previous three games, is within five rebounds of 100 for her career.
Glancing ahead
• The RiverHawks will close out the December road trip at Nebraska-Kearney with tip scheduled for 1 p.m Sunday.
