TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State is at home this week to play two games to begin the month against Emporia State (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and Washburn (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.). 

They return to the comfortable confines of the NSU Event Center after taking a couple of losses on the road to conclude their January at Missouri Southern (72-44) and Pittsburg State (82-72).

The Setup
- Keith Ferguson in his first season leading the program after spending the previous seven at the NAIA level with Bethany College (Kan.).
- The RiverHawks are in their 12th season as members of the MIAA and 27th season as an NCAA Division II program.  
- This is their longest homestand in conference play, as they round out the three-game slate in Tahlequah to start the month with a battle against Rogers State on Feb. 10.

Storylines
- This week's contests mark the first rematches of the team's MIAA schedule. The RiverHawks faced both the Ichabods and the Hornets on the road in December near the start of their league schedules.
- A win for Northeastern State in either game this week would be their tenth of the season, their first double-digit win total since the 2017-18 campaign.
- Courtney Lee had another productive week on the road to finish January, leading the team in scoring against the then-#23 ranked Missouri Southern Lions (17 points) before reaching double figures again for the sixth consecutive game and the ninth in her last ten with 13 against Pittsburg State. Lee has averaged 12.8 points per game in MIAA play this season, only behind Halie Jones (13.0 PPG).
- Tor'e Alford tied a season best with 18 points against Pittsburg State on Saturday. Alford also set a season high in converted field goals (eight). 
- The NSU defense had a difficult time containing the Lions and Gorillas last week, as the teams combined for 154 points on 56-of-117 (47.9%) shooting. 
- Slow starts to the second half plagued the RiverHawks twice in the previous week's road trip, as they were held to just 26 points on 8-of-24 (33.3%) shooting in the third quarter against Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State, being dealt a -21 across both frames.
- Northeastern State will face two teams that rank in the middle of the conference in offense, as Washburn (71.9 PPG, 6th) and Emporia State (64.9, 9th) also possess scoring defenses that rank in the MIAA's lower half at 9th (Washburn, 63.9 PAPG) and 11th (Emporia State, 64.8 PAPG), respectively. 
- NSU's 5-8 record in conference action is currently one game ahead of the first team below the league postseason cut-line in Central Oklahoma at 4-9. 

Northeastern State vs. Emporia State // February 1 at 5:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Emporia State (9-10, 6-7 MIAA)
- ESU is on the road twice this week, as they travel to Rogers State's Claremore Expo Center to square off with the Hillcats on Saturday. 
- The Lady Hornets opened league ball with three straight wins, but have lost seven of ten since then, including three straight. 
- Brian Ostermann is in his first season leading the program. Ostermann is in his 35th season as a collegiate coach after spending the previous nine as the associate head coach at Kansas State. While this is his first campaign as a head women's basketball coach at the collegiate level, Ostermann had previous head coaching stints leading men's basketball at the junior college level with Missouri State-West Plains (2004-08) and Colby CC (1999-2004). 
- Faith Paramore is in the top ten in the league in scoring (14.4 PPG) and will seek to repeat a strong showing from last December against the RiverHawks, when she went for 20 points and 13 rebounds. 

Last Time They Met
Emporia State 63, Northeastern State 57 | Dec. 9, 2023 | Emporia, Kan.

- NSU had a strong showing in the first 20 minutes, taking a 40-22 score to intermission and leading by as much as 21 before suffering a collapse in the second half to allow Emporia to take the win.
- The RiverHawks shot a respectable 16-of-28 (57.1%) in the first half before being limited to just 5-of-29 (17.2%) in the closing half.
- Courtney Lee scored 13 points to highlight four NSU players that made double figures.

Series Notes
- ESU leads 23-5 in the series entering Thursday.
- The RiverHawks have lost 12 straight overall to the Lady Hornets.
- Four of the last five have had close scores at the final, with decisions differed by single digits. 

Northeastern State vs. Washburn // Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. // Live Coverage

About Washburn (11-8, 6-7 MIAA)
- Washburn goes to the road to face Rogers State Thursday before matching up with Northeastern State Saturday.
- The Ichabods have lost five of their most recent six conference meetings after starting strong with five wins in their first seven.
- 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 (16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.8 APG) has been having a tremendous season, while Yiibari Nwidadah had little problem attacking the NSU defense when they hosted the RiverHawks on Dec. 19, going for 19 points and six rebounds to lead the Ichabods.

Last Time They Met
Washburn 75, Northeastern State 56 | Dec. 19, 2023 | Topeka, Kan.

- An evenly matched opening half (34-34) was followed by a more one-sided closing two quarters, with the Ichabods emerging with a 41-22 second half to claim the home triumph.
- A +11 lead at the free throw line helped power the Ichabods to the win.
- Courtney Lee had 14 points in the loss to lead NSU.

Series Notes
- Washburn has taken 15 of 22 meetings in the all-time series. 
- Despite road difficulties, the RiverHawks have been the winners of two of the most recent three in Tahlequah.
- The Ichabods will try for their second regular season sweep of the RiverHawks in the last three seasons.

Coming Up
Northeastern State finishes the homestand with Rogers State on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Tahlequah.