TAHLEQUAH (Feb. 25, 2023) – Northeastern State hung tough for one quarter, but No. 15/10 Central Missouri opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run and steadily pulled away for an 86-48 win over NSU in the RiverHawks' season finale on Saturday afternoon at the NSU Events Center.

Sophomore Ashton Hackler wrapped up her strong finish to the basketball season with a team-high 16 points for NSU (6-20, 3-19 MIAA), while Jaylee Kindred added 12 points. But it wasn't enough to offset a balanced performance by Central Missouri (23-3, 19-3), which had five players score in double figures.

A layup by Kindred with 53 seconds left in the first quarter put the RiverHawks ahead 15-13, but Olivia Nelson hit a short jumper as time expired in the quarter for the Jennies to tie the game, and then Central Missouri scored the first nine points of the second quarter to seize control.

Central Missouri led 36-23 at halftime at 55-37 at the end of the third quarter before closing with a 31-11 blitz in the final quarter.

Olivia Nelson scored 16 points and Lauren Frost had 14 points and six assists for the Jennies, who finished as the MIAA runner-up to Nebraska-Kearney. Brooke Littrell added 12 points for Central Missouri.

At halftime, NSU celebrated its 2002-03 Lone Star Conference championship team as the squad enjoyed a 20-year reunion. Northeastern State went 24-7 overall that season and qualified for the NCAA Division II postseason for the first time in program history.