TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State women's basketball team returns for their final home games in the month of January by hosting Emporia State (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and Newman (Saturday, 12 p.m.). The RiverHawks are 13-3 overall and 5-2 in MIAA contests.

Through 16 games, Reese Shirey is ninth in the MIAA in assists per game (3.0). The RiverHawks are among the nation's elite at the foul line, sitting fifth in free throws made (283) and free throws made per game (17.7). They are also seventh at the Division II level in free throw percentage (80.4%).

A Quick Look Back
Northeastern State closed a three-game road trip with a 67-53 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday. The Lions wiped away a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 47 entering the fourth period, but would be held to just 2-of-11 shooting in the final ten minutes. The RiverHawks dominated the inside with 36 points in the paint and were anchored by Deyanna Douglas, who led with a game-high 17 points.

The RiverHawks have won three straight behind consistently stout defending, holding opponents to just 32.4% shooting during the streak. Northeastern has also won the turnover battle in 10 straight and are 10-2 in games where they commit fewer turnovers than the opposition.

About Emporia State
The Lady Hornets (9-8, 3-5 MIAA) enter as winners of two of their last three and are in season one under MJ Baker. ESU ranks inside the top half of the league in a variety of defensive categories, including turnover margin (fourth, 2.4), opposing 3PT% (fifth, 28.3%), steals per game (fifth, 8.4), opposing turnovers per game (tied for fifth, 17.6) and blocks per game (sixth, 3.5). Emporia State also ranks eighth in scoring offense (68.1 points per game) and 11th in scoring defense (67.7 PPG).

Kaitlyn Sanders leads the team with 16.8 PPG and enters off a 22-point performance against UCM last week. It marked the seventh time Sanders has surpassed 20 points in a game this season. Gracie Gilpin is second in scoring (12 PPG) and is an experienced weapon from within the ESU backcourt. The senior guard had five steals against the RiverHawks in last season's meeting in Emporia, her highest single-game total during her ESU career.

The Series: ESU leads the series, 24-7. The Lady Hornets mustered a 12-game winning streak against NSU that spanned 2018-2023. The RiverHawks took the most recent contest in Tahlequah (Feb. 1, 2024) and knocked off ESU in Emporia for the first time since 2015 in a 61-56 victory last season.

About Newman
The Jets (7-10, 1-7 MIAA) enter on a six-game losing streak and have just three true road games played so far. They encounter Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday before traveling to Tahlequah for the weekend game.

Newman ranks ninth in the MIAA in scoring offense (66.5 PPG) and defense (65.4 PPG). The Jets are sixth in the league at forcing misses from outside (29.6% opposing 3PT) and turnover margin (1.4). Jaeden McDaniel is sixth in the conference in scoring (15.7 PPG) and paces the team in rebounding (6.3 RPG). A nine-point performance against Washburn on Jan. 17 broke up a three-game streak of contests that saw the junior make at least eight field goals and score at least 22 in each.

The Series: NSU leads the series, 11-3. They hold a record of 6-1 in true home games against the Jets. The RiverHawks are undefeated against NU during the Ferguson era, owning an average margin of victory of 13.6 points.

Up Next
The RiverHawks travel for league rematches against Pittsburg State (Jan. 28) and Missouri Southern (Jan. 31).