Northeastern State at Emporia State Saturday, Dec. 18  |  5:30 p.m. | White Auditorium
Records	Northeastern State (2-7, 0-3 MIAA) • Emporia State (6-4, 1-3 MIAA)
Game Notes	Northeastern State •  Emporia State
Listen	Bill Huddleston (play-by-play)  NSU Digital Network
Watch	The MIAA Network
Live Stats	NSU Live Stats
Tickets	Tickets Available at Gate | ESU Ticketing
Social Media	@RiverHawksWBK  | @RiverHawksWBK  | Facebook

The Setup

• The RiverHawks close out 2021 seeking to snap a six game slide at Emporia State.
• Both the RiverHawks and Lady Hornets have played two of the top-eight toughest schedules to date this season.   NSU's past opposition holds a 44-19 record or a .698 winning percentage. 
• Saturday evening is NSU's eighth game away from Tahlequah this season, with only two home games scheduled.  January 2022 will look different with the RiverHawks hosting six.

Last Time Out

• Maleeah Langstaff turned in her fourth double-double of the season, but the RiverHawks faded in the fourth quarter, falling 65-51 to Pittsburg State Saturday. 
• Trailing by one in the final seconds of the third quarter, Langstaff picked up a driving layup to hand the RiverHawks a 45-44 lead into the game's last ten minutes. 
• Langstaff recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. 
• It was NSU's only lead, and Gorillas opened the fourth on a 13-2 run to retake control of the game. 
• After missing the first eight games due to injury, Kailyn Lay made her debut for NSU.

Storylines

• Zaria Collins holds the MIAA's eighth highest-scoring average per game this season at 16.3 and has scored at least ten points in nine of the last ten games.  The junior is third in the MIAA with 131 field-goal attempts and 12th with 48 made buckets. 
• Maleeah Langstaff is among the top-100 in the nation win eight statistical categories this season, and second in the MIAA with 15 blocks.  The senior is among the MIAA leaders with 7.0 defensive rebounds per game and fourth in the association with ten rebounds per game.  Langstaff is fourth in the MIAA with four double-double games this season. 
• Morgan Lee leads the RiverHawks with 85 games played with 55 starts.  Against Bacone this season, Lee had a career-high seven steals, which is third-most in a game in the MIAA this season and tied for 12-most in NCAA Division II women's basketball.   Her twin-sister Maegan Lee is third on the NSU roster averaging 9.6 points per game this season.  The RiverHawks have a third Lee in true-freshman Courtney Lee, who is not related to the Lee Twins and has seen the floor in eight games.
• After missing the first six games due to injury, true-freshman Jaylee Kindred made her career debut at Northwest Missouri.  Kailyn Lay started and made her NSU debut against Pittsburg State on Dec. 12.
• Jessica Barrow leads the RiverHawks with 15 made three-pointers and is shooting .405 from the arc, averaging 9.3 points per game.
• Northeastern State's 62 team rebounds against Bacone is an MIAA high tied for 15th-most in NCAA Division II women's basketball this season.
• The RiverHawks are entering their tenth season as members of the MIAA and 25th season as an NCAA Division II program.  
• In October, Northeastern State was picked to finish in 11th place in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Polls.

About Emporia State

• Like the RiverHawks, Emporia State has played a grueling first-half schedule, with its past opposition holding a .697 winning percentage.   The Lady Hornets have three on their past schedule that are ranked in the top-25 nationally, with games against the top two teams. 
• The Lady Hornets are first in the MIAA in blocked shots (43), free-throw percentage (82.9), and three-pointers made (100).   They are second in the nation at the arc with three-point attempts and three-pointers made.
• Tre'Zure Jobe is tenth nationally with 21.5 points per game and leads the MIAA with 28 three-pointers made.  Up to Saturday's game in Edmond, she had five straight 20-point games and has scored 1,230 career points.  Against the RiverHawks last season, she had a pair of 20-point games, including an 11-for-22, 29 point outing at Emporia last spring. 

Last Time They Met

• The RiverHawks matched a program record with 15 three-pointers but allowed 20 points off turnovers.
• Northeastern State shot 8-for-11 in the opening quarter.
• Zaria Collins had 14 points, and Morgan Lee added ten for NSU 
• Emporia State was limited to just four turnovers against NSU.

Series Notes

• Northeastern State and Emporia State have not played each other in December since the 2012-13 season.
• The RiverHawks have lost seven in a row at Emporia State, dating back to a 58-56 overtime win on Feb. 12, 2015, over a then-ranked No. 9 Lady Hornets team.
• In 24 meetings with ESU, Northeastern State averages just over 59-points per game.