MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Northeastern State staged a fourth-quarter rally, but Northwest Missouri found their stroke in the final minutes making ten of their last 11 shots to beat the RiverHawks 75-55 Thursday evening in both teams MIAA opener. 

The RiverHawks were within four (52-48) of Northwest following a layup by Maegan Lee to cap a run of five unanswered points with six minutes remaining.   Northwest would regroup following a called time out with nine unanswered of their own to hand NSU its fourth consecutive setback.

Zaria Collins led the team with her second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Maleeah Langstaff had 12, with ten points coming in the first half. 

Ashton Hackler scored nine off the bench, and Maegan Lee had eight. 

Northwest shot 78.6-percent in the final quarter on 11-for-14 shooting with four players in double figures.  With the win, the Bearcats improved to 5-1 (1-0 MIAA). 

The RiverHawks (2-5, 0-1 MIAA) limited their turnovers to seven but were 8-for-17 at the free-throw line and shot 37.3-percent from the field (22-59).

Northeastern State heads next to Missouri Western on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. tip-off.