LINDSBORG, Kan. -- Northeastern State leaned on a deep bench and clutch free-throw shooting to defeat Mary 73-62 in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon.
Alex Hill paced the RiverHawks (3-3) with 19 points, four rebounds, and six steals, but a collective team effort secured the win. Northeastern State's bench was pivotal, contributing 37 points, while the Marauders (1-2) could only muster 22 points from their reserves.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams trading leads. Mary held an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter thanks to Ava Interrante and Bergen Kinnebrew, who combined for 21 points. However, Northeastern State responded with a 10-2 run to end the half, fueled by Hill's defensive energy and a timely three-pointer from
Brennan Kirchhoff. The RiverHawks entered halftime tied 35-35 with Mary.
In the third quarter, Northeastern State took control. Hill exploded for nine points, and the team's defense forced Mary into seven turnovers. Northeastern State scored 21 points in the period, building a double-digit lead heading into the fourth. The Marauders' offense struggled, shooting 34% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. Despite their efforts, Mary was unable to recover from the third-quarter onslaught.
Free throws became the story in the final frame, with Northeastern State capitalizing on their play to dominate at the line. The RiverHawks attempted 41 free throws, converting 28, compared to Mary's 20-of-26 mark.
Courtney Lee and Kirchhoff combined to go 5-of-6 from the stripe in the closing minutes, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Turnovers plagued Mary throughout, as the team coughed up the ball 27 times, leading to 24 points for Northeastern State. Interrante led the Marauders with 10 points and six rebounds, while Kinnebrew added 11 points and four boards. Emily Jaenke chipped in with 12 points, including three three-pointers.
Northeastern State's balanced attack included contributions from Hill, Kirchhoff (10 points, two steals), and
Madina Camara (9 points, 2 rebounds). Despite shooting 35.7% from the field, the RiverHawks' defense and rebounding edge helped them maintain control. They out-rebounded Mary 35-37, with
Grace Abercrombie pulling down five boards.
The Marauders had their opportunities but failed to capitalize in key moments. After cutting the deficit to seven midway through the fourth, they committed back-to-back turnovers, allowing Northeastern State to rebuild their lead. Late fouls and missed shots sealed Mary's fate in the neutral-site game.
With the win, Northeastern State moves to .500 on the season and looks ahead to a matchup against McPherson on Monday at 5 p.m. inside history Jack Dobbins Field House.
