EDMOND, Okla. -- Gabrielle Tilley scored 16 points and Northeastern State closed on a 21-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to beat Central Oklahoma 63-57 on Wednesday night at Hamilton Field House.

The RiverHawks (11-3, 3-2 MIAA) trailed for most of the first half but steadied late in the second quarter and went to the break down 32-29. Central Oklahoma pushed its lead to as many as 11 in the third quarter before Northeastern State flipped the game with defense, timely rebounding and a burst of transition scoring.

NSU's surge started late in the third after it pulled within 45-44 on a 3-pointer by Gracy Shieldnight. McKenzie Smith then gave the RiverHawks their first lead of the night with a fast-break layup, and Northeastern State carried a 50-45 advantage into the fourth.

The RiverHawks stayed aggressive to open the final period, scoring the first seven points to stretch the margin to 57-45 after a Reese Shirey 3-pointer. Tilley later drilled a 3 to make it 60-45, and Shieldnight added a jumper that capped the decisive unanswered streak. Northeastern State finished 23 of 60 from the field and forced 16 Central Oklahoma turnovers while collecting nine steals.

Smith added 11 points and five rebounds, while Shirey and Deyanna Douglas scored 10 apiece. Douglas also had two blocks for a RiverHawks defense that recorded six blocks overall.

Nykaiya Dillard led Central Oklahoma (6-8, 1-4) with 21 points. The Bronchos shot 20 of 58 from the floor and went 12 of 16 at the line.

The win was Northeastern State's fifth straight over Central Oklahoma and its third consecutive victory over the Bronchos in Edmond — the program's first three-game road winning streak in the series in more than 20 years (2000-03).

Northeastern State remains on the road Saturday, facing Rogers State in Claremore at 1:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold only on game day at the Claremore Expo Center.