Game #21

Northeastern State (6-14 MIAA) at Central Oklahoma (11-6 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. | Edmond, Okla.

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

Opening tip
• In the first meeting of the season, Collins led the RiverHawks with 17 points but was outmatched by Johnson with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double.
• Northeastern State has two players who score in double figures; Collins (16.5), Hayes (16.0). They rank in the top-8 of the MIAA. Both also pull down six or more rebounds; Collins (7.5), Hayes (6.2).
• The RiverHawks season is coming to a close. Today is their final road contest before returning to Tahlequah to close the season versus Rogers State Saturday. It is 4-6 inside the Event Center in 2020-21 and 2-8 on the road. The RiverHawks have had just one game postponed due to COVID-19 this season and have played the most games of any conference member.
• NSU has a chance to make the MIAA Tournament if it wins its final two games. It has the tiebreaker over Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western thanks to opening weekend wins.
• The RiverHawks allow opponents to shoot 45.4 percent from the floor while UCO allows just 37.0.
• Both teams are reluctant to rely on the 3-point shot, but NSU has let them fly the past three games.
• Tess Talo Tomokino has returned to the starting lineup the past three games. When NSU runs out the lineup from the first game of the season the RiverHawks are 3-2.
• Saturday's meeting is one of six MIAA contests. NSU is 3-7 on Saturdays this season.
• Central Oklahoma does not allow fans in 2020-21 in a precautionary manner due to COVID-19.

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

Looking back
• The RiverHawks were led by Zaria Collins with 24 points and 17 rebounds while Isabella Regalado netted 18 and Cenia Hayes added 16. The latter two made five 3-pointers apiece in a 76-63 victory at Newman Thursday evening.
• It was Collins' third double-double of the season while Hayes fell one rebound short of her third.
• NSU set a Fala Bullock era record for rebound margin with plus-20. • The teams exchanged leads until the 2:39 mark in the third quarter when NSU led by one, 48-47. The RiverHawks then went on a 16-4 run to take control. During that run, NSU held Newman scoreless for six minutes into the fourth quarter.
• Northeastern State made 12 3-pointers and converted at a 40.0 percent clip for the game.

The series with Central Oklahoma
• Northeastern State has dropped the nine games in the series. Before UCOs run, NSU led the series 36-21.
• The RiverHawks last won on Feb. 6, 2016. They last won in Edmond on that date as well. The last NSU win in Tahlequah was Dec. 19, 2015.
• The teams have long been in-state rivals with the first meeting Feb. 25, 1978.
• As a head coach at NSU, Fala Bullock is 0-7 vs. the Bronchos. As a player, she was 3-1.

Bronchos notes
• Are led by 6-foot, 3-inch forward Kelsey Johnson who scores 18.9 points and pulls down 9.3 rebounds per game. Have two other players who nearly average double figures in Brooke Rayner and Jaci Littell. Also rank second in the MIAA with 15.3 assists per game.
• Are 11-6 on the season and are on a two-game win streak. • The Bronchos hold opponents to 37.0 percent shooting, the second-best in the conference.
• Lead the MIAA with 40.5 rebounds per game and hold a +5.3 margin on the glass.
• There are three players from the Tulsa area on the roster

Undersized? Big heart.
• Sophomore Zaria Collins has cemented herself on the top of opposing team scouting reports this season. She averages 16.5 points shooting 46.8 from the field and 7.5 rebounds. Collins stands 5-foot 9-inches, but goes to battle in the paint and as a result is third in the MIAA with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game, it's 64th nationally. She also ranks fourth in the MIAA playing 35.4 minutes per game which is eighth of all forwards nationally.
• Collins is coming off a 24-point, 17-rebound performance at Newman in which she was 10-12 from the field. The 17 rebounds was a career-high. She has three double-doubles this season.
• In the three games, she missed NSU was 0-3.

Hayes' ways
• Senior Cenia Hayes has been the scoring leader the past three seasons for the RiverHawks. In the last seven games, she has returned to form averaging 17.7 points and 5.4 rebounds. In the last two, she has been the early threat knocking down multiple 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the game. She has six 20-plus point games this season and had back-to-back double-doubles in mid-January. She nearly notched a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds at Newman. 

Taking care of the ball
• The RiverHawks rank 32nd nationally in turnovers per game with 13.8. It's the fewest since 2016-17 (13.0). NSU is sixth in the MIAA. 

Chasing history
• Sanchez currently averages 3.8 assists per game. If the season ended today she would tie for the program record in a season. Collins currently is tied for the most minutes per game in a season at 35.4.

Glancing ahead
• The RiverHawks return home for the final regular season game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to play host to Rogers State. The Hillcats and RiverHawks are essentially tied in the MIAA standings. Both are battling for the eighth seed in the MIAA Tournament.