TAHLEQUAH – Northwest Missouri State seized control with a 9-0 run in the first quarter and Northeastern State never recovered, falling 68-46 to the Bearcats on Saturday afternoon inside the NSU Event Center.

NSU (6-16, 3-15 MIAA) is two games behind Central Oklahoma in the race for the final spot in the MIAA postseason basketball tournament, with four games remaining in the regular season.

The RiverHawks jumped to a 7-3 lead during the game's first four minutes, but Northwest Missouri State (13-11, 8-10) scored the next nine points and pulled away to lead 16-11 by the end of the quarter and 33-19 at halftime.

NSU came no closer than 14 points in the second half.

Ashton Hackler extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to six, leading the RiverHawks with 17 points. Courtney Lee added eight points, a team-high seven rebounds and two blocked shots for NSU. The RiverHawks blocked six Northwest Missouri State shots, with Tess Talo Tomokino also contributing two blocks.

Peyton Kelderman led the Bearcats with 15 points, while Kelsey Fields had nine points and 18 rebounds.

NSU will play its final two road games next week, on Wednesday at Newman (Kan.) (7-15, 4-13) and next Saturday at UCO (5-13, 8-14). The RiverHawks' final two regular-season games will be at home against Lincoln (Mo.) (5-18, 3-14) on Feb. 23 and Central Missouri (18-3, 14-3) on Feb. 25.