TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State returns to The Nest to conclude their final homestand of the regular season by hosting Northwest Missouri on Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western 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 (10-14, 6-9 MIAA) fell twice at home last week in losses to Central Missouri (70-59) and Washburn (62-52). Annaston Brown was the team's leading scorer over the week with 26 points scored, including a career-high 14 against the Ichabods. The freshman and native of Tahlequah has reached double figures in four straight contests. 

With four regular season games remaining, NSU ranks tenth in KPI. They face Northwest Missouri next, who is eighth in KPI, while the MIAA's second-ranked team on KPI in Missouri Western comes to The Nest this week, too. The RiverHawks are tied for fourth in the MIAA in offensive rebounds per game (11.6) and are fifth in turnover margin (1.9). The NSU defense is also tied for second in opposing turnovers per game (17.9) and third in steals (9.4). 

Individually, Deyanna Douglas ranks ninth in the conference in free throw percentage (74.1%). Inside of conference play, Annaston Brown is third in the league in three-point percentage (40.3%) and fifth in three-point field goals per game (2.1).

About Northwest Missouri (12-13, 5-10 MIAA)

The Bearcats enter the week with wins in two of their last three, while they hold a 4-6 record across true road games on the season. The program is in its seventh season under the leadership of head women's basketball coach Austin Meyer, who spent time in Maryville as an assistant from 2006-18 and played for the Bearcats from 2002-06. 

As a team, the Bearcats hold the 12th-ranked scoring offense (62.5 PPG) and the third-ranked scoring defense (61.9 PPG). One of the slower-paced units in the conference, the team ranks 14th in the MIAA in attempts for (1,387) and 12th in attempts against (1,357). The Bearcats hold the fifth-best three-point percentage in the MIAA (32.1%) and defend three-point shots at the seventh-best rate (29.6%). 

Individually, Caely Kesten is ninth in the MIAA in scoring (14.7 PPG) and holds the best three-point shooting clip in the conference at 45.2% (61-of-135). Molly Hartnett is tied for eighth in the league in assists per game (3.4) and is tied for seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7). Sadie Maas is one of the top interior defenders in the MIAA, ranking eighth in blocks per game (1.2) and seventh in total rejections (30). 

The Series

The RiverHawks are 10-9 in the all-time series against the Bearcats, but have dropped the last five overall. NSU is 5-3 in Tahlequah against NWMSU and seeks their first win over the Bearcats at the NSU Event Center on Nov. 19, 2020.

About Missouri Western (16-7, 11-4 MIAA)

The Griffons have won four of five to begin February in their first season under Ashton Feldhaus, owning a top-five scoring offense (70.2 PPG) and scoring defense (66.3 PPG) in the MIAA.

As a team, the Griffons are sixth in the MIAA in scoring (72.1 PPG) and ninth in scoring defense (66.7 PPG). MWSU also ranks sixth in field goal percentage (41.7%) but sits 11th in opposing field goal percentage (39.2%). Both scoring from and defending the three-point shot have been points of success for the Griffons this season, who are fourth in the MIAA in three-point percentage (32.2%) and opposing three-point percentage (29.0%). The team also boasts a fourth-place turnover margin (3.1) and is third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1) behind 16.0 APG, which is third across the association. 

Individually, Alyssa Bonilla ranks second in the MIAA in scoring (17.2 PPG) and assists (5.8 APG), while holding the conference crown in steals per game (2.8). Marie Sepp (12.7 PPG, 53.0% FG, 3.6 APG) is additionally seventh in the league in assists per game and places fourth in field goal percentage. Matilda Soderlund (9.8 PPG, 46.0% FG, 40.6% 3PT) is fourth in the conference in three-point baskets per game.

The Series

The RiverHawks are 7-12 against the Griffons and have dropped four of the last five in the series. However, Northeastern State earned a victory in the most recent meeting that was held in Tahlequah on Jan. 6, 2024, scoring a 74-58 triumph at the NSU Event Center.

Up Next

The RiverHawks finish the regular season on the road at Rogers State (Wednesday, Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m.) and Central Oklahoma (Saturday, Mar. 1, 1:30 p.m.).