TAHLEQUAH -- A new era tips off for Northeastern State women's basketball this week, as the RiverHawks start their first season under head coach Keith Ferguson with their participation in the Central Region Challenge. They face Northwestern Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 10 before doing battle with UMary on Saturday, Nov. 11. Both matchups have a 5:30 start time and will take place inside the NSU Event Center. 

The Setup
- Keith Ferguson is in his first season leading the program after spending the previous seven at the NAIA level with Bethany College (Kan.). Ferguson is the third-winningest coach in Bethany women's basketball history, tallying 121 wins across his time coaching the Swedes.
- The RiverHawks are entering their 12th season as members of the MIAA and 27th season as an NCAA Division II program.  
- Friday opens a 28-game season and six-game non-conference slate for the RiverHawks. NSU opens conference play on Nov. 30 in Tahlequah against Fort Hays State. 

Storylines
- Northeastern State was picked to finish in 11th place in the MIAA Coaches Poll and 13th in the MIAA Media Poll in October.
- The RiverHawks return four starters from last year's team. 
- Courtney Lee is the team's top returning scorer after finishing second among NSU players with 11.5 points per game in 2022-23. Lee also led the team in rebounding, grabbing 7.7 boards per game. 
- Jaylee Kindred returns after being one of the team's top scorers and rebounders last season. Kindred averaged 9.3 PPG and added 4.8 RPG.
- Tess Talo Tomokino and Aubrey Brown are back after receiving 24 and 21 starts, respectively, in the 2022-23 season. Talo Tomokino led the team in assists (70), while finishing fourth in scoring (6.3 PPG). Brown finished second in assists (65) and shot 36.5% from three-point range, the best clip among all NSU players with more than 13 attempts. 
- Patrycja Pawlata enters her senior season after seeing the court in 24 games with one start last year. A regular sight in NSU's second unit, Pawlata grabbed 52 boards as a junior in the previous campaign.
- The RiverHawks welcome six newcomers to the program this season, all of whom come to Tahlequah with previous playing experience at the collegiate level. 
- Experience will be a key theme of the group, as the team's 11-player roster consists of two fifth years, three seniors, and four juniors. No freshmen are on the 2023-24 roster. 

Northeastern State vs. Northwestern Oklahoma // November 10 at 5:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Northwestern Oklahoma
- The Rangers are coming off a 2022-23 season where they went 12-14, with ten of their wins coming at home inside the Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva, Okla.
- Head women's basketball coach Tasha Diesselhorst enters her eighth season leading the program. Notably, Diesselhorst has led the team to three GAC tournament appearances, including the program's first in the 2018-19 season.
- The Rangers were picked to finish seventh in the GAC Coaches Poll. 
- Every player with at least 13.2 minutes per game from the 2022-23 season is back again in 2023-24, highlighted by All-Conference selections in Faith Simpson (First Team) and Carly Craig (Honorable Mention). 

Last Time They Met
Northeastern State 73, Northwestern Oklahoma 56 | Nov. 13, 2021 | Edmond, Okla.

- After trailing 17-11 after the opening frame, the RiverHawks dominated the rest of the way, led by a 27-point third quarter to take the win. 
- Four NSU players hit double figures in the victory, led by Jessica Barrow's 20-point performance that included four made triples. 
- The RiverHawks limited the Rangers to just six made field goals in the second half on 24 attempts. 

Series Notes
- Northeastern State leads the series, holding a 16-13 all-time record against Northwestern Oklahoma.
- The Rangers took the most recent meeting in Tahlequah (76-71, Nov. 10, 2018). 
- The series dates back to 1982, when both teams were members of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (OIC) in the NAIA. 

Northeastern State vs. UMary // November 11 at 7:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About UMary (1-2)
- The Marauders enter the week's action with a 1-2 record. Taking part in the MSU Billings Tipoff Classic from Nov. 3-5, UMary picked up a ranked win in their opener, taking down #19 Angelo State (81-67) before taking losses to MSU Billings (77-51) and Texas Woman's University (73-69). 
- UMary was picked to finish third this season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
- Rick Neumann has led the program since 2012, guiding the Marauders to four winning seasons across his time as the head women's basketball coach at UMary. Neumann has been at the school for two decades, as he served as an assistant under Fred Fridley from 2003-12. 
- Four of the team's top five scorers from 2022-23 return this season. Megan Zander leads the group of returning talent, as she was the only UMary player to average double figures in points last year (14.7 PPG). 

Last Time They Met
UMary 70, Northeastern State 61 | Nov. 12, 2021 | Edmond, Okla.

- After fighting to a 15-15 stalemate after one quarter, the Marauders pieced together a 24-14 advantage across the second period and never surrendered the lead after. 
- UMary controlled the matchup down low, snagging 42 points in the paint to NSU's 28, while the Marauders outrebounded the RiverHawks 44-26.
- Maegan Lee shot 8-of-12 from the floor and added four converted three-point attempts for a 21-point performance, leading all NSU players.

Series Notes
- The Marauders have taken both of the meetings in the series (51-39 on Nov. 9, 2019 and 70-61 on Nov. 12, 2021).