TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State plays their final MIAA matchup of the calendar year when they go on the road to face Washburn in Topeka, Kan. at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.

The RiverHawks will seek to snap a two-game losing streak and claim their second win in conference action after being dealt a 58-44 loss at Rogers State last Wednesday. 

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.  
- After Tuesday, NSU will return to MIAA action on Jan. 4 when they draw a foe from the Show-Me state in Northwest Missouri in the NSU Event Center. 

Storylines
- The Northeastern State offense will look to bounce back after tallying the fewest points (44) so far in the Ferugson era against Rogers State last week. The team was held to a season-low 25.9% from the floor (15-of-58) and was held without a made three-point attempt across 11 shots from downtown. 
- To're Alford has reached double-figures in three straight games, most recently scoring 11 to lead the team against the Hillcats in Claremore last Wednesday. The fifth year senior from Derby, Kan. sits in third on the team with 10.4 points per game. 
- Courtney Lee has once again been NSU's top threat on the glass this season, as the junior enters Tuesday with consecutive eight-rebound performances. She's recorded at least seven in four of her last six games and leads the team with 5.6 boards per contest. 
- Patrycja Pawlata received her first start of the season and the second of her NSU career last week against Rogers State. The senior played a career-high 23 minutes in the loss and grabbed three rebounds, while also playing a key role on the defensive end in the paint for the RiverHawks. 
- NSU tied a season-best with 11 steals in the team's lone contest last week. Halie Jones led the way on the midweek meeting with three, while Grace Abercrombie, Tor'e Alford and Brennan Kirchhoff also picked multiple RSU pockets during the night. 
- The team shot 82.4% (14-of-17) at the free throw line against the Hillcats, their most efficient performance at the charity stripe so far in the Ferguson era. On the season, the team has converted exactly 73.0% (149-of-204) of their attempts at the line.
- Offensive struggles in the fourth quarter have been a key component to NSU's three conference losses. The RiverHawks have netted just 20 points in the fourth quarter across games against Fort Hays State, Emporia State and Rogers State, most recently logging seven in the final period over their matchup last week at RSU. 
- NSU has been one of the nation's best at the free throw line in terms of frequency, as the team ranks inside the top 20 nationally in free throws made per game (14th, 16.56) and attempts per game (20th, 22.67). 

Northeastern State at Washburn // December 19 at 2:00 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Washburn (7-3, 2-2 MIAA)
- Washburn enters Tuesday after taking their second defeat in MIAA action with a 98-78 loss against Missouri Western on Dec. 16. It put a halt to a two-game winning streak that featured WU victories over Rogers State (56-44) at home and Northwest Missouri (66-64) on the road. 
- Lora Westling is in her second season as the head women's basketball coach at her alma mater. Westling is in her 11th season as a head coach overall, previously leading teams at Illinois College and Western Colorado. 
- Aubree Dewey highlights a group of four WU players that have averaged double-figures this season, as the senior leads the way with 14.0 PPG. The 2022-23 All-MIAA Honorable Mention also holds the team's crown in assists (6.0 APG). 
- Yiibari Nwidadah averages a double-double (13.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG), reaching double-figures in scoring in all ten games this season and tallying at least ten rebounds in six. 

Last Time They Met
Washburn 61, Northeastern State 49 | Jan. 28, 2023 | Topeka, Kan. 

- After Northeastern State tied the game at 30 with 6:06 left in the third quarter, Washburn went on a 14-3 over the next 4:03. Following this, the lead never went lower than eight points for the hosts.
- Neither side found a consistent rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, as NSU struggled to 34.8% (16-of-46) shooting and WU went only 19-of-55 (34.5%). 
- Ashton Hackler was the only NSU player to reach double-figures with 21 points, highlighted by four makes from three-point land.

Series Notes
- Washburn has taken 14 of 21 meetings in the all-time series. 
- NSU has lost the last four meetings held in Topeka and will be searching for their first win against WU inside Lee Arena since Jan. 11, 2018. 
- The RiverHawks have been held to 50 points or under in four of the last five. 

Coming Up
Northeastern State finishes their non-conference slate with a matchup against Ecclesia (NCCAA) inside Jack Dobbins Field House in Tahlequah on Dec. 30 at 1:30 p.m.