EDMOND – A seven-minute scoreless run in the second quarter proved to be a difference-maker for the shorthanded RiverHawks Thursday in a 69-52 loss at Central Oklahoma. 

Entering the contest, Northeastern State has been idle since Dec. 18, with its first two games in 2022 postponed due to COVID protocols.   Additionally, NSU was forced to play with its leading scorers and rebounders Maleeah Langstaff and Zaria Collins.  The pair accounts for nearly half of the RiverHawks' offensive output and boards.

The RiverHawks held Central to 36.6-percent shooting despite missing its offensive production while finishing with a slightly better 37.5-percent.  

Without Langstaff and Collins rebounding hunted NSU, Central out-rebounded them by 20 (48-28) and out-scored them 21-to-7 on second-chance points. 

The RiverHawks held their ground to Central early in the first half, trailing the Bronchos by three following the opening stanza.  With a pair of treys, Hackler pulled NSU within one, 19-18, at the 7:05 mark in the second quarter.  However, the NSU offense stalled for the remainder of the half, shooting 0-for-6 and committing four turnovers to trail 29-18 at the intermission. 

Northeastern State continued to trail by double-digits the rest of the way, with UCO leading as many as 22 in the fourth quarter.

Maegan Lee led the RiverHawks in scoring with 14 points, Courtney Lee had a career-high 12 points off the bench, Ashton Hackler added ten.

Hackler and Morgan Lee led the RiverHawks with six rebounds as they fell to 2-9 (0-5 MIAA).

Kelsey Johnson paced UCO (9-5, 5-3 MIAA) with 20 points. 

Northeastern State will have a day off before heading to Wichita, Kan. to face Newman this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.