TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State returns to The Nest to begin their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Central Missouri on Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Washburn on Saturday (1:30 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 (10-12, 6-7 MIAA) fell back under .500 in MIAA play after a pair of road losses last week at #8 Fort Hays State (76-60) and Nebraska Kearney (79-50). The offense was limited to just 110 points on 34.6% shooting, while the team struggled defending with over 150 points allowed, including 42 on fast breaks. Deyanna Douglas led the team with 32 points across the week and has reached double figures in scoring in five of her last seven. Annaston Brown was the only other NSU individual to reach double figures in both games last week, adding 12 against the Tigers and ten against the Lopers over the weekend.

The first release of the KPI Standings within the MIAA placed NSU in ninth (-.016), narrowly behind eighth-place Missouri Southern (-.013). The KPI formula was introduced to the MIAA postseason seeding process for the 2024-25 season and determines placing on the conference tournament bracket in order of KPI rating from the top ten teams in the league based off of wins and losses. The RiverHawks enter the week two games above the cut-line with six regular season games remaining.

NSU ranks fifth in the MIAA in turnover margin (1.91) and boasts a top-three unit in securing steals (9.4 SPG) in overall play. During MIAA contests, the RiverHawks are second in opposing three-point percentage (30.0%), fourth in turnover margin (1.2) and second in steals per game (9.4). Individually, Douglas is tenth among qualified individuals in the MIAA in free throw percentage (74.8%) and Alex Hill is tied for tenth in steals per game (1.7) during overall play. During MIAA play, Douglas is ninth in free throw percentage (78.7%) and Annaston Brown is eighth in three-point field goals per game (1.8).

About Central Missouri (13-11, 5-8 MIAA)

The Jennies enter the week with losses in two straight and in three of their last four, most recently suffering a 75-61 setback in Topeka, Kan. at Washburn on Saturday. They currently rank ninth in the MIAA on their win-loss record and sit seventh in KPI. UCM concludes a three-game road trip this week.

Owning the ninth-ranked scoring offense (67.4 PPG) and the eighth-ranked rebounding unit (37.7 RPG) in the MIAA, the Jennies also sit sixth in scoring defense (63.1 PPG) and opposing field goal percentage (39.6%). One of the most efficient shooting teams inside of the association, UCM is fifth in field goal percentage (43.0%) and possesses the league's leading scorer and rebounder in Drury transfer and 2023-24 GLVC Player of the Year Reese Schaaf (18.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG).

Schaaf is one of seven players in the UCM rotation averaging at least 12.8 minutes per game with at least 2.8 PPG, while the junior is additionally one of three UCM individuals averaging at least 11.0 PPG. Four different players have started all 24 games this season for the Jennies, including Taylor Weishaar, who is fifth in the MIAA in rebounds per game (7.6) and first in blocks per game (2.1). Meanwhile, Lauren Frost has delivered 5.2 assists per game, good for third across the conference.

The Series

NSU is winless across 15 games in the all-time series against Central Missouri, which began in 2013.

About Washburn (13-10, 7-6 MIAA)

The Ichabods have won two straight and travel to face Arkansas-Fort Smith before entering the NSU Event Center Saturday afternoon. They are tied for sixth in the MIAA in win-loss record and are fifth in the first edition of the league's KPI standings.

Washburn is fourth in the MIAA in scoring offense (73.6 PPG) with the third-most efficient scoring offense (44.7% FG) and fourth-most efficient three-point attack (32.3% 3PT). Defensively, WU is ninth in scoring (66.5 PPG) and opposing field goal percentage (40.4%), while they rank eighth in opposing three-point percentage (29.9%). The Ichabods allow the second-fewest rebounds per game (32.7) in the league, while they collect the sixth-most per game (38.0).

Yiibari Nwidadah has played a key role in the team's scoring and rebounding success, as she is fourth across individuals in the conference in scoring (16.5 PPG), first in field goal percentage (65.7%) and ninth in rebounding (7.1 RPG). Nwidadah scored 19 points with six rebounds in WU's 75-56 win over NSU in Topeka in Dec. 2023 and was inactive in the rematch at the NSU Event Center in Feb. 2024, a 66-62 loss to the RiverHawks. Meanwhile, Payton Sterk (16.2 PPG) is tied for fifth in the conference in per-game scoring and leads the team with 30.7 minutes per game.

The Series

The RiverHawks are 8-15 all-time against the Ichabods, winning the two most recent contests in Tahlequah and dropping the last five in Topeka.

Up Next

The RiverHawks finish their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Northwest Missouri (Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western (Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m.).