LAWTON --  For the second time Saturday, Maria Popova came up with the match-clinching point for the RiverHawks in their 4-2 win over Seward Community College Saturday. 

The Junior was the deciding point in their 4-3 win over Cameron earlier in the day and won 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5) in her singles match against Seward. 

Northeastern State's two wins send them back to .500 at 4-4, with MIAA play resuming for the first time since 2019 this next Saturday. 

"Maria did it again for us today. She put in six and half hours on the court," said head coach Tim McLane.  "We're tired, we're beat down...but here we are with two wins on the day."

The RiverHawks started the match on the right foot and took the doubles point with wins on court two and three.

Seward took the first two singles points on courts one and three before Melissa Vera won 6-4, 6-4 on 4s to tie the match at 2-2 overall.   Vera Carvalho followed up with a 6-2, 6-1 win on 5s to get NSU within a court from the match. 

Seward falls to 5-6 overall with the match loss to Northeastern State.

The RiverHawks will open MIAA play at Fort Hays State on March 27.