JOPLIN, Mo. – The Northeastern State (2-2 in MIAA) women's basketball team fell to Missouri Southern (2-3 in MIAA) in its first road contest of the year 70-64. The teams were tied at the half with 35 apiece, but seniors
Shae Sanchez and
Cenia Hayes fouled out in the fourth quarter. With seven players left available the RiverHawks could not close out the victory.
The RiverHawks made 17 of 19 chances at the free throw line and scored 25 points off turnovers for the game. Their full court press, applied early and often, flustered the Lions for much of the game, yet the Lions shot 48.3 percent from the field to the RiverHawks' 32.8.
"I thought our kids played hard," Bullock said. "We fought and battled, we just need to do a better job. [Missouri Southern] earned that win."
The visitors came out of the gate playing aggressive full court defense and the first three Lions shots were wild. After struggling with the jumper Missouri Southern began attacking the paint and saw success led by 10 points from Carley Turnbull in the quarter, she led all scorers with 27 points for the contest. After one quarter of play Northeastern State trailed by four, 17-13.
At 8:01 in the second quarter, junior
Morgan Lee drew a charge and enlivened the defense as it held MOSO scoreless for 3:03. Lee responded to a Lions 3-pointer with one of her own in response to the make to end the run. Lee, as the point guard the next possession, kicked a pass to redshirt-freshman
Tess Talo Tomokino who knocked in another 3-pointer. It was the most 3-pointers attempted in a half this season who made 4-10. In the middle of the quarter MOSO went on a 10-2 run before sophomore
Britney Ho was fouled and made both free throws. The final 1:55 saw NSU go on a 9-0 run. During that run there were two steals by Hayes one via a bad pass by Turnbull equaling a 3-pointer from Sanchez from straight away. The Northeastern State senior then had a steal and breakaway to knot the score at 35. Northeastern converted on seven of eight free throw attempts in the quarter.
Coming out of halftime break the RIverHawks continued to hold MOSO scoreless until the 7:58 mark and Lee had a steal just seconds into the half. The third quarter continued much of the same way neither team was making consistently until the final three minutes. Sanchez had an and-1 basket at 1:59 and the full court press turned forced MOSO to fail to bring the ball across half court. Sanchez continued to play aggressively scoring on an inbound pass layup at 1:16 forcing timeout, she finished with 18 points. After three quarters Northeastern State led 52-51.
To open the final quarter MOSO made 9 of 10 of its baskets to take lead a 60-54 forcing head coach
Fala Bullock to call a timeout. A 19-6 run and lapse in defense forced NSU to play catchup the rest of the contest. A
Morgan Lee 3-pointer rimmed out at 2:45 while her twin sister Maegan, knocked down a 3-pointer to bring it back within five the next possession. From that point forward MOSO closed out the win thanks to six points in the quarter by Madi Stokes. Sanchez fouled out driving the length of the court and was called for a charge. The Lions shot 63.6 percent from the field in the fourth stanza.
Missouri Southern was led by senior Turnbell with 27 points and sophomore Stokes had a 10-point, 16-rebound double-double with four blocks for the Lions.
Northeastern State continues its season-long four game road swing playing at Pittsburg State Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
NOTES
RiverHawks attempted 21 3-point field goals making five…It was the first time Sanchez has fouled out of a game…Hayes' three steals keep her on pace to lead the MIAA…Every RiverHawk that played more than one minute scored.
