TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State women's basketball team ends a three-game road trip this week by facing Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The RiverHawks enter at 12-3 overall and are 4-2 in MIAA play, their best six-game start in league action since the 2014-15 season.

Through 15 games, McKenzie Smith is fifth in the MIAA among qualified players in field goal percentage (48.0%) and 10th in free throw percentage (80.8%). Meanwhile, Gabrielle Tilley is third in the conference and tied for 23rd nationally in free throw percentage (88.1%). Reese Shirey is ninth in the MIAA in assists per game (2.9) and Snowda Watie is tied for 10th in steals per game (1.6). As a team, the RiverHawks are second nationally in free throw percentage (81.4%) and free throws made (272).

A Quick Look Back
A 31-3 run across a sizable portion of the second half guided Northeastern State to a 63-57 triumph over Central Oklahoma on Jan. 7, marking their third win at Hamilton Field House and their fifth win overall in as many tries against UCO during the Ferguson era. The RiverHawks would follow this with an 86-44 beatdown of Rogers State on Saturday, handing RSU their worst home loss since 2020.

Annaston Brown led the RiverHawks with 21 points, a new career high. NSU shot 57.7% in the victory over the Hillcats, their strongest shooting percentage against a conference opponent since Jan. 15, 2011, when the program was still competing in the Lone Star Conference. After holding Rogers to 4-of-26 in the first half, the Hillcats would finish 15-of-54 (27.8%), tied for the lowest shooting clip from any opponent this season.

About Arkansas-Fort Smith
The Lions (2-13, 1-5 MIAA) have seen struggles on display during their second campaign as MIAA members. The team has dropped five of their first six in conference play. Just one of the team's seven home contests have ended in victory, a 73-63 win over Missouri Southern on Jan. 3.

They sit second from last in the MIAA in scoring (62.0 PPG), field goal percentage (37.8%), three-point percentage (27.2%) and scoring defense (70.0 PPG). 

The Series: In a series dating back to 2012, NSU leads 7-6. Last season was the first with UAFS as members of the MIAA. The Lions have won two of three meetings since their arrival, though NSU won the most recent contest on Dec. 2, 2025 (71-49).

Up Next
The RiverHawks return home to battle Emporia State on Jan. 22 (5:30 p.m.) and Newman on Jan. 24 (12 p.m.).