JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --The RiverHawks withstood a game-tying buzzer-beater in regulation by Lincoln, and Zaria Collins broke a 29-year-old record Saturday as Northeastern State won a drag out 89-79 double-overtime road battle.  

Collins paced both teams with a career-high 26 points and took 29 shots against the Blue Tigers, surpassing the previous mark by three, which was set by Stacy Johnson on Jan. 22, 1992.  The sophomore was two points short of matching an individual high scoring mark for NSU under fourth-year head coach Fala Bullock.  

Britney Ho recorded her first career double-double with a career mark of 13 rebounds and was one short of matching her best scoring effort with 12 points. 

The win for the RiverHawks came in a critical stretch for the team with just ten games left in the regular season after Saturday.  Northeastern State improves to 4-8 overall and in MIAA action and keeps pace for a shot at a top-eight spot for the Association's tournament that will happen in the first week of March.

"Our team is fighting to get into the conference tournament this year, and through all of the challenges, every little detail has to be looked over," said Bullock.  "I thought our kids got in there and grinded.  I've had a couple of really close, tight finishes, but this was one of the most fun that I've ever been a part of." 

"To see our girls toughen up and finish at the free-throw line, expand our lead, build our confidence to know that we can go on the road and finish.  It was huge; I'm so proud of them, I want them to keep doing it, maybe not in a double-overtime fashion like we did, but definitely looking forward to more wins."

Lincoln took advantage of a cool fourth quarter by the RiverHawks and trimmed down a double-digit lead on ten unanswered points.  The Blue Tigers connected on one trey all afternoon, made it count, and put them back 52-51 with 8:16 left.  

NSU looked prime to take the game in regulation, but a late turnover on an inbound pass on Lincoln's side of the court set up a one handed jumper from 12 feet out to tie the game at 62-62. 

After reaching a stalemate in the first extra five minutes, player attrition came into NSU's favor. The Blue Tigers lost one of their leading scorers and its top post player in the second overtime.   An 11-2 run for NSU was too much for Lincoln to overcome as the RiverHawks took their fourth straight over the Blue Tigers. 

All five of NSU's starters were in double-figures on Saturday.  Shae Sanchez had ten points, seven assists, and six rebounds, Morgan Lee and Maegan Lee both had 13.

AJ Bradley led the Blue Tigers (0-12, 0-12 MIAA) with 20 points. 

NOTABLES -- First double-overtime game for the RiverHawks since Nov. 16, 2013, against Drury (69-67); it was also the first game for the program inside the NSU Event Center … Morgan Lee's 13 points were a career-high … the RiverHawks are 3-3 this season on Saturday games … the first win on the fifth try for NSU in their black uniforms … tenth straight game with at least ten points for Collins and third 20-point game this season … Bullock is 4-0 against the Blue Tigers, and NSU is 6-5 all-time against them.