Game #18
Northeastern State (5-12 MIAA) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (14-2 MIAA)
Thursday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. | Tahlequah, Okla. | NSU Event Center

Game Coverage	goriverhawksgo.com/coverage.aspx
COVID-19 Protocols	NSU Guidelines - 25 %
NSU Game Notes	Game Notes
UNK Game Notes	Game Notes
Live Audio	NSU Digital Network
Live Video	The MIAA Network

Opening tip
• In the first meeting of the season, UNK downed NSU 68-56, but the RiverHawks held a five-point advantage at halftime. They shot just 25.0 percent in the second half.
• Nebraska-Kearney holds opponents to 34.3, the best in the MIAA, while NSU allows 44.9 percent shooting.
• Both teams play strong perimeter defense as UNK holds opponents to 24.3 percent and NSU limits to 29.2 from 3-point range. Neither team has been hot from deep themselves in 2020-21 though.
• The RiverHawks hold a 1.1 turnover margin and score 1.5 points more than the Lopers. Both teams, however, play team offense and tally up the assists.
• Northeastern State has three players who score in double figures; Collins (17.1), Hayes (15.3), Sanchez (10.8). Collins and Hayes rank in the top-10 of the MIAA. It also has two players who pull down five or more rebounds in Collins (6.9) and Hayes (6.3).
• The RiverHawks season is coming to close. NSU has four games remaining and two home contests. It is 4-4 at the Event Center in 2020-21.
• NSU will wear its road black uniforms in recognition of Black History Month.
• Thursday's meeting is one of five MIAA contests. NSU is 1-5 on Thursday's this season.
• NSU operates at 25 percent fan capacity in 2020-21.

Individual player notes are located on page 1 of the game notes

Looking back
• NSU defended its home court Tuesday afternoon downing Washburn 47-44. It was the lowest output for an NSU opponent since Jan. 21, 2017, and holding the Ichabods to just 16 makes was the lowest in the head coach Fala Bullock era.
• The RiverHawks were led by Cenia Hayes with 17 points and eight rebounds. She was the lone NSU player with double-digit scoring and, for the second-straight game, did her damage in the second half. Zaria Collins put in nine points and pulled down 12 rebounds and the starting group combined for 43 points.
• NSU took the lead in the fourth quarter to win, it's first of the season. Washburn mustered just six points the final stanza.
• NSU ended its four-game losing skid with the win.

The series with Nebraska-Kearney
• Northeastern State has dropped the last 14 games in the series and has never won in Kearney. It won the first two meetings, both coming in Tahlequah.
• In 2019-20 the Lopers had the RiverHawks' number winning by an average of 20.5 points.
• UNK outrebounded NSU by 11 and held the RiverHawks to 36.8 percent in the first meeting this season to win 68-56.
• The teams first met in 2013 when both were members of the MIAA and the RiverHawks last won on Jan. 16, 2014.
• As a head coach at NSU, Fala Bullock is 0-7 vs. the Lopers.
• Hayes averages 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists vs UNK to lead the current roster.

Lopers notes
• The No. 15 Lopers have held opponents to 51.1 points this season. Opponents shoot 34.3 percent from the field and 24.3 from 3-point land.
• Nebraska-Kearney has a +7.5 rebound margin pulling down 39.0 per game. • Eight players score 5.0 points or more while Elisa Backes (11.4) is the only to average double digits. It assists on 14.4 of it 22.6 makes per game.
• Though only scoring 62.0 points per game UNK wins by an average of 10.9 points.
• Ten Lopers stand 5-foot 10-inches or taller. Klaire Kirsch leads with 8.8 rebounds per contest.
• Nebraska-Kearney is an experienced bunch with seven upperclassmen on the roster.
• UNK's two losses both came to Saturday's visitor, No. 14 Fort Hays State.

Milestone watch
• Shae Sanchez is seven points from 500 points for her NSU career and needs one assist for 200 in her four-year career.
• Cenia Hayes needs two rebounds for 500 for her career.
• Maegan Lee is six and Zaria Collins is 17 rebounds from 200.

Taking care of the ball
• The RiverHawks rank 23rd nationally in turnovers per game with 13.3. It's the fewest since 2016-17 (13.0). NSU is fifth in the MIAA.

Glancing ahead
• The RiverHawks host No. 14 Fort Hays State Saturday at 1:30 p.m. inside the NSU Event Center. The Tigers won the first meeting of the season 80-60 on Dec. 18, 2020.