TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State women's basketball plays their conference finale for the calendar year on Tuesday, traveling to Joplin, Mo. to clash with Missouri Southern.

Tuesday's matchup can be viewed on The MIAA Network. Orry Phillips will be on the call on Lakes Country 102.1 from Joplin on Tuesday for the doubleheader against the Lions.

A quick look back 

The RiverHawks split the opening week of MIAA matchups, taking a 72-64 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith on Dec. 3, despite a career-best 23 points from Courtney Lee. NSU returned to form as a unit two nights later on Dec. 5, handing NU their most lopsided loss in the all-time series in a 78-50 decision. The RiverHawks entered the second half trailing by two (27-25) but emerged with the win behind a +30 run over the final two quarters.

NSU limited NU to just 26.4% (14-of-53) shooting in the victory, the lowest an opponent has shot this season against the RiverHawks.

About Missouri Southern (8-5, 1-1 MIAA)

The Lions enter Tuesday with an 8-5 overall record after splitting their opening two conference meetings at Rogers State (W, 57-54) and Central Oklahoma (L, 87-76). 

MSSU owns the MIAA's eighth-ranked scoring offense (68.3 points per game), while they allow 60.9 PPG, the fifth-fewest total in the conference. Kaitlin Hunnicutt paces all MSSU individuals in scoring (14.9 PPG) and sits in eighth in the conference, while Ryan Franklin is tied for fifth in the association in rebounds per game (7.8).

The Series

NSU is 12-20 all-time against Missouri Southern, dropping the last seven in the series. Their last victory against the Lions took place on Jan. 17, 2019 in Tahlequah. The RiverHawks are 5-14 on the road against the Lions, as their last victory over MSSU in Joplin happened on Jan. 26, 2013.

Courtney Lee scored 17 points on 5-of-12 (41.7%) shooting from the floor last season against the Lions in Joplin, but the offense outside of Lee sputtered to just 12-of-43 (27.9%) shooting in a 72-44 loss. It marked the most lopsided defeat for NSU in MIAA play for the 2023-24 season.

Up Next

The RiverHawks travel on Dec. 21 to face Drury in a non-conference road meeting.