TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State starts MIAA action for the first time during the Keith Ferguson era this week. 

The RiverHawks host Fort Hays State on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. before they take on their only other home MIAA opponent on the 2023 side of the season in Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. 

Before going to break, NSU was defeated 69-56 on the road in Arkadelphia, Ark. against Henderson State. 

The Setup
- Keith Ferguson is in his first season as head women's basketball coach at Northeastern State after spending the previous seven at Bethany College (Kan.). 
- The RiverHawks are in their 12th season as members of the MIAA and 27th season as an NCAA Division II program.  
- Thursday begins a 22-game conference slate for NSU. The team has not surpassed six wins in conference play since the 2014-15 season. 

Storylines
- Northeastern State starts conference play in Tahlequah, where they'll head into Thursday with their minds set on defending their three-game winning streak across matchups contested inside the NSU Event Center. 
- Halie Jones has found ways to be a factor every time she's stepped on the floor this season, as the fifth year leads all NSU players in scoring (13.2 PPG) and is tied with Brennan Kirchhoff for the team crown in steals (1.6 SPG). Jones has hit double figures in every appearance so far, most recently scoring ten against Henderson State last week. 
- Courtney Lee enters the week coming off a strong performance against Henderson State, leading the team with 17 points and nine rebounds for a near double-double. The junior currently holds second place among NSU players in scoring (10.6 PPG), in addition to holding the team lead with 5.2 rebounds per contest. 
- Aubrey Brown provided her best offensive performance of the season last week against the Reddies, scoring a season-high ten points on four-of-nine shooting and two-of-four from downtown. Brown is one of the team's top returners after leading all NSU players in assists last season (65) and seeing 30.3 minutes per game. 
- After losing the rebounding battle in their first two games of the season, the RiverHawks have controlled the glass in three straight, most recently outdoing the Reddies last week in Arkadelphia, 37-32. Notably, the RiverHawks claimed a season-best 14 offensive rebounds over the course of last week's date with HSU. 
- A major strength for NSU so far has been frequency at the line, as the team is inside the top 25 nationally and holds the conference lead with 17 made free throws per game. 
- NSU has maintained a solid presence down low on the defensive end, tallying 17 blocks so far and at least four in four of their first five. Jaylee Kindred leads the group with four blocks at this stage of the campaign. 
- The team will need to make good use of their time at home this week, as they spend the next four weeks of official action away from the NSU Event Center after Saturday's clash with UNK. 

Northeastern State vs. Fort Hays State // November 30 at 5:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Fort Hays State (4-0)
- The Tigers enter conference play after winning four straight to start the season. FHSU has handed losses to Minot State (79-54), then-second ranked Minnesota State (83-67), Coloardo Mesa (65-62) and MSU Denver (64-45). 
- Head women's basketball coach Talia Kahrs is in her first season leading the program after spending the previous 11 as an assistant coach at FHSU. She served under former head coach Tony Hobson from 2012 until his retirement from coaching in 2023. Kahrs has been associated with women's basketball at FHSU for 15 consecutive years, dating back to her collegiate playing career. 
- Katie Wagner has led the charge early for the Tigers this season. The two-time All-MIAA honoree and three-time MIAA Player of the Week leads the team in scoring (18.8 PPG), highlighted by a 32-point performance against Minnesota State. Wagner also leads all FHSU players in rebounding (8.8 RPG), as her efforts on the glass have helped her to multiple double-doubles over the team's non-conference slate. 
- The Tigers have done a good job of moving the basketball around and committing few turnovers in the process, ranking inside the nation's top ten in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). 

Last Time They Met
Fort Hays State 88, Northeastern State 52 | Dec. 1, 2022 | Hays, Kan.

- The RiverHawks struggled to 18-of-46 (39.1%) shooting while the Tigers converted over half their tries (32-of-58, 55.2%). 
- Tess Talo Tomokino was a bright spot, shooting six-of-seven to tie for the team lead with 12 points. Bri Wietelman came off the bench to add 12, as well, while Ashton Hackler entered double figures with ten. 
- Katie Wagner pieced together a double-double for the Tigers, scoring 23 points and grabbing ten boards. 

Series Notes
- Fort Hays State leads the all-time series, holding a 19-4 advantage entering Thursday. 
- NSU took the most recent meeting in Tahlequah, taking down a FHSU team that was ranked fifth in a 67-58 win. The RiverHawks outscored the Tigers 40-21 over the second and third quarters in the victory. 
- All but two of NSU's losses in the series have been by double digits. 

Northeastern State vs. Nebraska-Kearney  // December 2 at 1:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Nebraska-Kearney (6-0)
- UNK has won six straight to start the season, most recently winning a 74-65 meeting against Chadron State on Saturday, Nov. 25. 
- Prior to facing the RiverHawks on Saturday, the Lopers are set to trek to Claremore, Okla. to do battle with Rogers State to open MIAA play.
- Drew Johnson is in his first season leading UNK women's basketball after spending the previous two at Newman. Johnson also spent time as the head coach at Bethel at the NAIA level, where he coached nine All-KCAC honorees and three NAIA All-Americans. 
- Shiloh McCool is a regular double-double threat for the Lopers, as the fifth year has two already this season and averages 15.3 points per game alongside 9.2 rebounds. McCool's rebounding total leads a UNK team that grabs 47.2 boards per contest, the seventh-best average in the country. 

Last Time They Met
Nebraska-Kearney 79, Northeastern State 46 | Dec. 3, 2022 | Kearney, Neb.

- The Nebraska-Kearney defense held strong throughout, as Northeastern State was limited to 37% shooting (20-of-54) and only one-of-six (16.7%) from three-point range. 
- Courtney Lee scored 13, while Jaylee Kindred grabbed six misses in the loss. 
- The 33-point defeat tied for the largest against UNK over the series for NSU.

Series Notes
- After Northeastern State took the first two meetings in the all-time series, Nebraska-Kearney has claimed the last 18. 
- The RiverHawks have been limited to just 56.7 points per game over their 20 meetings against the Lopers. 
- The series returns to Tahlequah after spending the previous two matchups in Kearney, Neb.

Coming Up
Northeastern State kicks off a three-game road trip with a visit to Hornet Country to battle Emporia State on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 6:00 p.m.