TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – A 27-9 run over the fourth quarter allowed Northeastern State (6-7, 2-5 MIAA) to sky to a 74-58 victorious outcome over Missouri Western (10-4, 5-3 MIAA) in the NSU Event Center Saturday afternoon.
After the visitors won the first few minutes, taking a 9-6 lead 3:54 into the contest, NSU took control over the rest of the period with a +5 finish to hold a slight two-point advantage (20-18) ten minutes in.
A hot start to the second, highlighted by makes on three of their first four possessions gave the RiverHawks an eight-point lead (26-18, 8:06) before the Griffons brought the edge down to two with 3:39 left in the half. Three different RiverHawks scored a bucket apiece to round out the half and kick the difference back to five in the host's favor at the break.
NSU started the third strong, as well, allowing them to take their largest lead of the day up to that point with 7:02 left in the stanza at 11 (43-32). MWSU responded with a strong wave of offense that spanned the rest of the quarter and the start of the fourth, outscoring the RiverHawks on a 20-6 run to give the Griffons a 52-49 lead 33 seconds into the final frame.
Needing to end the offensive struggles, the RiverHawks found a big fourth and nearly half of their points in the period from
Halie Jones, who scored 12 of her 21 in the final ten minutes of play. She outscored the Griffons across the quarter, who were held to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%) from the field.
The strong close to the matchup secured the team's sixth win of the season, matching their overall total from the 2022-23 season and marking the first time the team has surpassed five home wins since the 2017-18 campaign.
Jones shot seven-of-ten overall and was a perfect four-of-four from outside the circle, while
Tor'e Alford (18) and
Madina Camara (ten) joined her in securing double figures.
Courtney Lee grabbed 11 rebounds to become the first NSU player to log at least ten in a single game this season.
The RiverHawks have a brief two-game road trip on deck, beginning with Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
