TAHLEQUAH – Following Thanksgiving Break, Northeastern State returns to the floor to begin MIAA play this week. After traveling to face Arkansas-Fort Smith on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the RiverHawks (4-3) return to the NSU Event Center to battle Newman on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

A live broadcast feed will be available for both games on The MIAA Network (PPV). The games can also be listened to live on Lakes Country 102.1 with Orry Phillips on the call. 

A quick look back 

The RiverHawks enter the week with four straight wins, their longest winning streak since 2014. NSU took down Mary (73-62) in a neutral site date on Nov. 23 at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. before defeating McPherson (90-46) on Nov. 25 at Jack Dobbins Field House.

The defense has shined, as NSU held opponents to a combined 32-of-94 (34.0%) from the floor and 6-of-32 (18.8%) from three-point range across the pair of wins.

About Arkansas-Fort Smith (6-2)

The Lions have won six of their first eight to begin the season, most recently netting a win over Truman State (75-73) last Wednesday. The Lions are 6-0 when they have scored 60 or more points in a game so far, while both losses were suffered with sub-60 point efforts.

True freshman Anna Trusty leads the team in scoring (14.2 points per game), while she closely trailed by senior Morgan Browning (12.8 PPG). Sinetra Jones set the UAFS single-season record in field goal percentage (59.8%) last season and has reached double figures on three occasions this fall, while she ranks second in rebounding (6.8 rebounds per game), only behind Trusty (7.0 RPG).

The Series

NSU is 6-4 all-time against UAFS, winning the most recent meeting in Tahlequah on Nov. 18, 2023 (74-57). This marks the first meeting with the Lions with UAFS as a member of the MIAA, as the 2024-25 season marks the first for Arkansas-Fort Smith in the conference.

About Newman (4-4)

The Jets open their MIAA schedule at the NSU Event Center on Thursday and enter league play after splitting their eight November non-conference matchups. Key wins include a 15-point road triumph over Emporia State on Nov. 19 (74-59) and a victory over Drury (79-73) in the Drury Thanksgiving Tournament last Wednesday in Springfield, Mo. Significant losses include a 26-point home setback in the opener to Arkansas-Monticello (73-47) and a 32-point defeat to Truman State (80-48) in the Drury Thanksgiving Tournament last Tuesday.

Sophomore Jaeden McMillin is the lone NU player to average double figures in scoring so far, averaging 14.8 PPG. Valeriya Lioukina holds the rebounding crown (6.6 RPG) and is the most efficient shooter on the team (53.8 FG%). 

The Series

NSU is 8-3 all-time against Newman, most recently sweeping the season series last year against the Jets with a pair of victories in 2024. In a series that dates back to 2012, all 11 meetings have been decided by 14 points or less, while the last five have seen differentials of eight points or less.

Up Next

The RiverHawks are off for a week before returning to MIAA play in Joplin, Mo. against Missouri Southern on Tuesday, Dec. 17.