Game #20
Northeastern State (5-14 MIAA) at Newman (3-15 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. | Wichita, Kansas

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

Opening tip
• In the first meeting of the season, Collins and Hayes each notched double-doubles in the 60-46 victory in Tahlequah.
• The RiverHawks score 10 more points than the Jets. Newman does hold opponents to 63.7 points per game while NSU allows 70.3.
• Though both teams rank in the bottom of the conference in 3-point shooting, NSU holds opponents to 28.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
• Northeastern State has three players who score in double figures; Collins (16.1), Hayes (16.0), Sanchez (10.1). Collins and Hayes rank in the top-8 of the MIAA. It also has two players who pull down five or more rebounds in Collins (6.9) and Hayes (6.1).
• The RiverHawks season is coming to close. NSU has two games remaining; at UCO and at one home vs Rogers State. It is 4-6 inside the Event Center in 2020-21 and 1-8 on the road.
• Tess Talo Tomokino has returned to the starting lineup the past two games. When NSU runs out the lineup from the first game of the season the RiverHawks are 2-2.
• Saturday's meeting is one of six MIAA contests. NSU is 1-5 on Thursday's this season.
• Newman allows two visiting fans per player. They have the lowest attendance in the conference. 

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

Looking back
• NSU hosted No. 14 Fort Hays State for its second nationally ranked opponent of the week Saturday. They lead after one quarter of play. The RiverHawks were a combined 14-29 in the first and final quarters.
• NSU was led by Cenia Hayes with 21 points while Morgan Lee was a perfect 5-5 from the field and made a career-high four 3-pointers. Zaria Collins also reached double figure scoring with 10 points herself. Shae Sanchez finished with seven points and seven assists.
• The RiverHawks were outscored in the paint by 22, outrebounded by nine and the Tigers bench scored 22 more than NSU's.
• NSU made all seven of its free throw attempts. It also converted on 45.0 percent of its 3-point attempts (9-20).

The series with Newman
• NSU leads all-time with a 3-1 record and won the first game of the season 60-46 in Tahlequah.
• Newman is new to the MIAA and as members NSU leads the series 2-1. The first meeting came in 2012 in Wichita, NSU won 53-45.
• The RiverHawks have the lowest average scoring against Newman of any team they are scheduled to play this season.
• As a head coach at NSU, Fala Bullock is 2-1 vs. the Jets.

Jets notes
• Newman has lost the last nine.
• The Jets are led in scoring by Brooke Haney (10.3) and Faith Mason-Vestal (10.1). Haney converts 39.7 percent from beyond the arc. Madison Birnbaum is the lone player who pulls down five or more rebounds with 5.8.
• The Jets play disciplined at a slower tempo in 2020-21 and commit the third fewest fouls per game in the MIAA.

Undersized? Big heart.
• Sophomore Zaria Collins has cemented herself on the top of opposing team scouting reports this season. She averages 16.1 points shooting 45.0 from the field and 6.9 rebounds. Collins stands 5-foot 9-inches, but goes to battle in the paint and as a result leads the MIAA with 2.9 offensive rebounds per game, it's 73rd nationally. In the three games she missed NSU was 0-3. She also ranks fourth in the MIAA playing 35.3 minutes per game which is ninth of all forwards nationally.

Hayes' ways
• Senior Cenia Hayes has been the scoring leader the past three seasons for the RiverHawks. In the last six games she has returned to form averaging 18.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. She has six 20-plus point games this season and had back-to-back double-doubles in mid-January.

Milestone watch
• Shae Sanchez surpassed 500 points for her NSU career in the last game.
• Maegan Lee is one and Zaria Collins is three rebounds from 200.

Taking care of the ball
• The RiverHawks rank 28th nationally in turnovers per game with 13.7. It's the fewest since 2016-17 (13.0). NSU is fifth in the MIAA.

Glancing ahead
• The RiverHawks vist Central Oklahoma Saturday at 1:30. Rival UCO downed NSU 71-44 on Jan. 7 in Tahlequah.