TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State (2-6 in MIAA) women's basketball fell in its return to the NSU Event Center to long-time in-state rival Central Oklahoma (4-3 in MIAA) 71-44. It was the first game at home for the program in 40 days and the first time this season that every player suited up.
NSU had a poor shooting night and was outrebounded by 14. UCO scored the first five points of the contest and never looked back.
The RiverHawks were unable to get on a roll in the first half and had their lowest output of the season, 20 points, shooting 28.6 percent through 20 minutes. For the game, they shot 33.3 percent from the field (16-48), 15.4 percent from beyond the arc (2-13) and 52.6 from the charity stripe (10-19).
"I think we didn't run our offense as well as we had in practice this week," head coach
Fala Bullock said. "Their physicality and athleticism and just sheer toughness let [Central Oklahoma] outplay us. That was disappointing because I know we can be tougher, and we discussed that in the locker room, the girls agreed. We're going to be looking to bounce back."
In the first quarter, sophomoreÂ
Zaria Collins scored eight of the nine Northeastern State points. She was the only RiverHawk to score before the first media timeout. Collins led the RiverHawks with 17 points in the game. NSU played aggressively but was unable to capitalize on two steals and UCO powered through the full-court press.
Senior
Cenia Hayes had six first-half points including a drive down the entire court from an inbound pass at the 5:17 mark in the second stanza. Soon after with 5:05 remaining, she was fouled as the Bronchos looked to trap in front of their bench. The second stanza saw a 16-8 Bronchos run pushing the lead to 15.
The third quarter was much of the same for Northeastern State as UCO went on a 12-4 run before junior
Cielo McClain, in her first game of the 2020-21 campaign, made a contested jumper spearheading an effort to bring the margin to 14.
Northeastern State was unable to pick up their play in the final quarter allowing Central Oklahoma to shoot 60.0 percent. It had flashes of the first 10 minutes as Collins continued to battle down low scoring nine points including an and-1 basket with 5:52 remaining.
The Bronchos had three players score in double figures led by 6-foot 3-inch forward Kelsey Johnson who continued her streak of double-doubles with 22 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. NSU's Collins was joined in double digits by Hayes who tallied 12 points while senior
Shae Sanchez assisted on a career-high eight made baskets.
Northeastern State hosts Newman at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It will be the first women's-men's doubleheader at the Event Center since Nov. 28.
NOTES:
It was the first time all NSU players were eligible to play this season…Junior
Maegan Lee started the game, ending her twin sister, Morgan's, streak of seven straight to open the campaign…It was the lowest scoring output by an NSU team since Jan. 4, 2020…Shooting 52.6 percent at the free-throw line was the least this season.
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