Game #4
Northeastern State (2-1 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (1-3 MIAA)
Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. | Joplin, Mo.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State opens a season-long four game road trip at Missouri Southern Thursday Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Opening tip
• Today's game in the first of four road contests for Northeastern State in the month of December.
• The RiverHawks are shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from the beyond the arc and 82.4 from the free throw line. Each is better than the 2019-20 season as a whole.
• Four players score in double figures for NSU led by Collins with 20.5. It has had three different leading scorers in each of its first three games.
• The RiverHawks pull down 13.3 offensive rebounds and 20.7 on the defensive end. It has outrebounded its competition twice this season, having a +1.3 rebound margin.
• Northeastern State (0.98) has the third best assist/turnover margin in the conference while Missouri Southern (0.51) carries the worst.
• The RiverHawks 14.3 assists per game is the best average under Bullock.
• Additionally, scoring 70.0 points per contest is the highest average under Bullock.
• The RiverHawks will play with eight student-athletes: Hayes, Mo. Lee, Ho, Talo Tomokino, Sanchez, Regalado, Pawlata, R. Brown.
The series with Missouri Southern
• The RiverHawks hold a 17-16 series lead over Missouri Southern who has won seven of the last nine meetings between the two programs. Each team has exchanged wins in the last four meetings.
• Northeastern State has dropped six straight games at Missouri Southern. The Lions have held NSU below 55 points during that span.
• In Tahlequah, the RiverHawks control the series 12-2. However, the last three meetings at NSU have been within three points, with two overtime contests.
• As head coach at NSU, Bullock is 2-2 against Missouri Southern.
About the Lions
• It welcomes NSU for its home opener although no fans will be present.
• Is third in the conference pulling down 28.5 defensive rebounds per game.
• 6-foot, 3-inch sophomore Madi Stokes leads the team with 10.3 rebounds per game, ranks second in the MIAA. Stokes also averages a conference-best 2.0 blocks per game.
• Freshman Kaitlin Hunnicutt leads the team scoring 11.3 points per contest.
• Won its first game Saturday at Lincoln (+16) after falling to Central Oklahoma (-1), Newman (-4) and Central Missouri (-26).
• Was picked to finish tenth in the preseason coaches poll, after finishing 7-12 in MIAA play last season.
Looking back
• Northeastern State fell to Emporia State Saturday in Tahlequah 78-64. The Lady Hornets went on a 20-4 run late in the third quarter into the fourth which was too much to overcome.
• The RiverHawks had three first year players set career scoring highs versus the Lady Hornets led by Regalado with 11 points.
• Only eight players were eligible to play in the final game of 2020 in Tahlequah. Although this was the case, the bench outscored an opponent for the first time this season.
• The RiverHawks allowed their best field goal percentage of the season to Emporia State (50.0), opponents shoot 47.2 percent versus NSU.
Milestone watch
• Three RiverHawks are within 10 rebounds of 100 for their NSU careers;
Britney Ho has 92 rebounds,
Morgan Lee has 99 rebounds,
Shae Sanchez has 90 rebounds.
Glancing ahead
• Northeastern State will play at Pittsburg State Saturday, Dec. 5, with tip-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
