TAHLEQUAH -- The Northeastern State women's basketball team officially opens its 2025-26 campaign at the GAC/MIAA Regional Challenge in Weatherford this Friday and Saturday.

The RiverHawks will face Oklahoma Baptist on Friday at 4 p.m. before taking on Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday at 5 p.m. Both contests will be held at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center, hosted by SWOSU.

A Quick Look Back
NSU tuned up for the season with scrimmages against Harding and Washburn, along with an exhibition matchup at Missouri State. The RiverHawks' bench nearly matched the Lady Bears in scoring (22-18) and trailed by just 10 heading into the final quarter before falling 75-57.

Newcomer McKenzie Smith led the way with 16 points and six rebounds, while Annaston Brown added 15 points, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc.

Scouting Southwestern Oklahoma State
The Lady Dawgs enter the year picked to finish third in the Great American Conference after a 16-13 (12-10 GAC) season. SWOSU reached the conference tournament but fell to fourth-seeded Southeastern Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals.

This year's roster features 10 newcomers — six freshmen and four transfers — joining five returners from last season.

Series History
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 35-24, dominating the early NAIA-era matchups by winning 26 of the first 28 meetings.

Scouting Oklahoma Baptist
Oklahoma Baptist is projected fifth in the GAC preseason poll following a 20-9 campaign — their first 20-win season in a decade. The Bison opened this year with an 80-60 exhibition loss to Mid-America Christian (NAIA).

OBU launched 42 three-point attempts in that game, which would've ranked as the second-most in program history had it been a regular-season contest.

Series History
Friday marks the 31st all-time meeting between the RiverHawks and Bison, with OBU holding a narrow 16-14 advantage. The programs have met seven times in the NCAA era, with a 21-year gap in the rivalry ending in 2016.

Up Next
The RiverHawks return to Tahlequah on Tuesday to host Ouachita Baptist in non-conference action.