TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State is on the road again this week for a pair of contests at #8 Fort Hays State (Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m.) and Nebraska Kearney (Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 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 (10-10, 6-5 MIAA) split last week's matchups with an 80-62 loss to sixth-ranked Pittsburg State last Thursday, followed by the program's first win over Missouri Southern since 2019 in a 68-61 victory on Saturday. Alex Hill was the top scorer across last week's action with 33 points, led by a 20-point showing against Pittsburg State. It marked the third time in a span of six contests that Hill has scored into the 20s, while she enters the new week having reached double figures in each of her last seven. Courtney Lee led the RiverHawks on the glass after a pair of nine-rebound efforts against the Gorillas and Lions.

With four weeks left in the regular season, NSU is tied for sixth in the MIAA standings with Missouri Southern and two games above a tie for tenth between Emporia State and Central Oklahoma at 4-8 in league play at the cut-line within the postseason picture. The RiverHawks boast a top five unit in overall play in the MIAA in turnover margin (1.8, fifth) and are third in steals (9.5). In conference play, NSU is tied for fifth in scoring per game (68.8 PPG) and fourth in three-point percentage (34.3%). Defensively, the RiverHawks are second in steals (9.5 SPG) during conference games and third in opposing three-point percentage (30.3%) and opposing turnovers (17.1 TOPG). Individually, Alex Hill is tenth in the MIAA in scoring (14.7 PPG). During conference action, Deyanna Douglas is tenth in free throw percentage (79.6%). 

About #8 Fort Hays State (18-2, 9-2 MIAA)

The Tigers enter this week with sole possession of second place in the MIAA standings after five straight wins, most recently against Central Missouri (74-64) on the road last Saturday. 

FHSU owns a top-three scoring offense (75.6 PPG) in the conference, in addition to surrendering a league-low 56.9 PPG. While the Tigers have converted on 45.9% of their field goal attempts, good for second in the association, opponents have been held to makes on 34.6% of tries, the lowest clip in the conference and tied for the 15th-lowest in the nation. The three-point shot has been just as one-sided in FHSU's favor, with the Tigers ranking third in the MIAA in three-point efficiency on offense (33.1%) and first on defense (26.5%). 

Led by Katie Wagner DeGarmo, who is fourth in the MIAA among individuals in rebounding (7.8 RPG), the Tigers are third in rebounding margin (7.0). The team is also second in turnover margin (3.7) and first in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4), helped by the MIAA's assists leader in Brooke Loewe (7.2 APG) and Wagner DeGarmo, who is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3). Olivia Hollenbeck leads FHSU in scoring (16.3 PPG) and is fourth in the conference, while Wagner DeGarmo (16.0 PPG) sits closely behind in fifth. Talexa Wheeler (14.0 PPG, 53.2 FG%) is the team's most efficient shooter off the bench.

The Series

NSU has dropped 20 of 24 meetings in the all-time series against the Tigers, including the last three overall. The team's most recent victory was against a then-#5 Tigers squad on Feb. 7, 2022 at the NSU Event Center (67-58). The RiverHawks are winless in the series in Hays.

About Nebraska Kearney (15-5, 8-3 MIAA)

The Lopers enter the week off of two straight road defeats, a 62-54 loss to Central Missouri and a 85-78 setback at the hands of Washburn on Saturday. Entering last week, UNK had won their last six. The Lopers are 7-0 at home for the campaign and host Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday night.

Nebraska Kearney possesses fifth place in the MIAA in scoring offense (73.2 PPG) behind the league's fourth-best field goal percentage (43.5%) and the MIAA's top offensive rebounding unit (13.0 ORPG). Defensively, the Lopers allow just 57.4 PPG on a 36.3% shooting clip (both second in MIAA). Opponents have not fared a lot better beyond the arc at just 28.6% from outside, tied for fourth in the league. The Lopers force the second-most turnovers per game (18.2) and hold the fourth-best turnover margin (3.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.0).

Individually, the team has six different players averaging between 8.0-10.3 PPG, led by Jillian Aschoff, who also paces the team in assists (4.5 APG), an area she sits in fifth in the conference for. Samantha Moore is tied for sixth in the MIAA in rebounding (7.6 RPG) and Meg Burns is fifth in three-point field goals per contest (2.2).

The Series

NSU is 3-18 all-time when facing the Lopers, though they knocked off the then-defending conference champions last season in Tahlequah in a 74-71 final. Brennan Kirchhoff is the leading returning scorer from the victory with nine points, while Courtney Lee added eight with five rebounds alongside three assists.

Up Next

The RiverHawks begin their final homestand of the season next week, hosting Central Missouri (Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m.) and Washburn (Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m.).