PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State hit a layup as time expired to end Northeastern State's night in a 71-69 heartbreak on Thursday evening. 

Maleeah Langstaff recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a game-high 26 points and ten rebounds.  Ashton Hackler had 12 points and hit a game-tying three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left.

Morgan Lee was NSU's third player in double figures with 11 points.  

The RiverHawks out-shot Pitt State with 44.4-present on the floor (28-63) and out-rebounded them by eight with 40.   Zaria Collins came off the bench with eight boards and eight points. 

Courtney Lee hit just her second three-pointer of the season just as time expired in the third quarter to give the NSU a 51-48 lead, its first since the final minute of the opening stanza. 

Pitt State opened the fourth quarter scoring seven unanswered points before Maegan Lee hit a trey with 6:58 remaining.  The Gorillas countered in their next possession with a three to extend their lead to four (58-54).  

Both teams traded buckets until Collins got a tip-in with 4:45 tying the game for the sixth time on the night at 61-61. 

The game remained close the rest of the way; Langstaff scored her 26th point to give NSU a 66-65 lead with 25 seconds left.  Following back-to-back timeouts, the Gorillas got a critical bucket and drew a foul for a three-point swing to give them a two-point lead.  Needing to tie the game, NSU missed a layup with ten seconds to go forcing the RiverHakws to foul.  Pitt State would make the first free throw but missed the second to make it a three-point lead. 

On their final possession, while being double-teamed, Hackler landed a critical three-pointer with 2.9 left on the clock.  Pitt State quickly called a timeout to advance the ball to their side of the court, where they were able to get a layup on the right side of the bucket just before time expired. 

The setback drops NSU to 4-14 (2-10 MIAA) while Pitt State improves to 12-8 (7-6 MIAA)  

Northeastern State closes out its week with a trip to Missouri Southern on Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. tip-off.