WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 2, 2024) – Central Missouri kept its perfect all-time record against Northeastern State intact, downing the RiverHawks 81-65 on Saturday afternoon at the UCM Multipurpose Building in the regular-season finale for both basketball teams.

The loss didn't change postseason position for NSU (14-14, 10-12 MIAA). The RiverHawks tied for eighth in the conference standings and will face the team with which it tied, Emporia State (Kan.), on March 6 at noon in the opening game of the MIAA Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. NSU will be making its first MIAA tournament appearance since 2018.

Emporia State and NSU split their regular-season meetings, with the Hornets winning 63-57 on Dec. 9 at home and NSU rolling to an 81-61 win in Tahlequah, Okla., on Feb. 1.

Halie Jones led NSU on Saturday against the Jennies, scoring 23 points on 10-of-21 shooting to go with five steals. But only one other NSU player, Tor'e Alford, scored in double figures, finishing with 12 points. The RiverHawks shot 40.7 percent (24 of 59) from the field, compared to 50 percent for Central Missouri (32 of 64).

NSU jumped to a 6-0 lead in the opening 90 seconds against Central Missouri (21-7, 15-7), but the Jennies took only four minutes after that to take the lead and they never surrendered it. The Jennies led 23-19 after one quarter and 37-28 at halftime. Central Missouri scored the first five points of the second half and NSU never cut the lead below double digits after that.

Brooke Littrell scored 27 points for the Jennies while Graycen Holden added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Central Missouri posted a 41-24 advantage in the latter category.

Central Missouri and NSU have played 15 times.