TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State women's basketball team wraps their final road trip of the regular season by traveling for matchups at Northwest Missouri (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.). The RiverHawks are 16-8 overall and 8-7 in MIAA contests. They are tied with Northwest Missouri for sixth in the MIAA standings, two games back from fifth-place Washburn and 1.5 games ahead of eight-place Emporia State.

Through 24 games, Northeastern State ranks seventh in the MIAA in scoring (70 points per game) and field goal percentage (40.5%). The RiverHawks pace the conference on turnover margin (3.6) and are fourth in steals per game (8.7) and scoring defense (61.8 PPG). NSU leads the MIAA and ranks second nationally in free throw percentage (81.1%). The RiverHawks are fourth in NCAA Division II women's basketball in free throws made (413) and seventh in free throws made per game (17.2). Notably, Gabrielle Tilley is 20th nationally in free throw conversion rate (87.5%).

A Quick Look Back
The RiverHawks took a pair of losses last week to Central Missouri (61-51) and Washburn (72-64). The Jennies feasted upon the offensive glass last Thursday to the tune of a nine-board margin and a seven-point difference on second chance looks. NSU would encounter similar issues against Washburn, who gained a seven-board edge on offensive rebounding. Across the week, the RiverHawks held a -16 in offensive rebounds and a -21 in total rebounding. Additionally, the team faced a -16 in second chance points and a -15 on fast break points.

McKenzie Smith was the team's top scorer last week with 28 points across eight made field goals and eight made free throws. Kori Rainwater set a season high with 15 points against Washburn on Saturday. 

About Northwest Missouri
The Bearcats (15-10, 8-7 MIAA) enter the week as one of the hottest teams in the MIAA, winners of five straight. Their defense is second in the MIAA in scoring (58.4 PPG) and additionally holds opponents to the second-lowest field goal conversion rate (36.6%) in the association. The Bearcats are second in the MIAA in blocks per game (4.5) and sit in seventh in steals per game (7.4).

Bailey Birmingham leads the team in scoring (11.5 PPG) and three-point makes (53) across the campaign. Andrea Lopreato is second in scoring (11.3 PPG), while Sadie Maas paces the squad in rebounding (8.1 RPG) and ranks sixth across the league on the glass.

The Series: The series enters its 21st meeting tied at ten games apiece. The Bearcats have won the last six in the series, leaving NSU searching for their first win against them since Nov. 19, 2020 and their first win in Maryville since Nov. 30, 2017.

About Missouri Western
The Griffons (9-15, 5-10 MIAA) face Northeastern State on Saturday for the first time in the Scheidecker era after hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday.

The team ranks in the top half of the MIAA in a variety of offensive categories, including points per game (70.2, sixth), field goal percentage (41.7%, tied for third) and three-point percentage (33%, second). Defensively, they allow the most points per contest in the association (70.1) but rank at the top of the league in steals per game (9.7).

Mia Morel paces the offense in scoring (15.5 PPG) and heads into the week off an explosive 30-point performance against Missouri Southern on Saturday. The senior has accounted for over a quarter of the team's makes from beyond the arc this season and has made at least three treys in nine games this season, including four of her last seven.

The Series: The Griffons have won 13 of 20 meetings in the series, including the last two and five of the last six. The RiverHawks search for their first win over Missouri Western in St. Joseph since Feb. 2, 2013.

Up Next
The RiverHawks close their regular season with matchups at the NSU Event Center against Rogers State (Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.) and Central Oklahoma (Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m.).