EMPORIA, Kan. – Maleeah Langstaff led the RiverHawks with 17 points and was a rebound short of a double-double, but they would come up short, falling 66-59 on the road to Emporia State Saturday evening. 

Key turnovers and the Lady Hornets were +10 on Northeastern State in points in the paint halted a late come from behind win as they fall to 2-8 overall (0-4 MIAA).

Ashton Hackler aided NSU off the bench with a career-high 15 points making five of the RiverHawks' nine three-pointers on the night. 

Northeastern State opened the game hot taking a 13-7 on the Lady Hornets making their first three attempts at the arc.  Emporia State would rally during a five-minute cool spell that spanned between the quarters, and a run of 12 unanswered gave them a 36-25 lead in the closing minutes.   The RiverHawks cut into the ESU lead, closing the half with five straight points to pull within 38-32 of the Lady Hornets. 

NSU kept pushing the issue on Emporia State in the final minutes, and a Langstaff layup with 4:36 left made it a 59-55 game.  However, the RiverHawks would go cold, missing their subsequent four shot attempts as a run of five unanswered points was too much to overcome.  

The RiverHawks held a 34-to-33 rebounding edge, shooting 37.7-percent (23-61) on the floor. Kailyn Lay had five assists, and Maegan Lee scored eight. 

Emporia State improved to 7-4 (6-3 MIAA) and had two players with 17 points. 

Northeastern State will be off until Jan. 1, where they will host Fort Hays State to open the New Year.