TAHLEQUAH – The Northeastern State women's basketball team begins February by hosting #8 Fort Hays State (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.) and Nebraska Kearney (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.) at the NSU Event Center. The RiverHawks are 16-4 overall and 8-3 in MIAA contests.

Through 20 games, Northeastern State ranks fourth in the MIAA in scoring (72.3 points per game). They are also tied fifth in field goal percentage (41.4%). The RiverHawks pace the conference on turnover margin (4.2) and are fourth in steals per game (9.2). NSU leads the MIAA and ranks fifth nationally in free throw percentage (80.3%). The RiverHawks are fourth in NCAA Division II women's basketball in free throws made (350) and free throws made per game (17.5).

A Quick Look Back
Northeastern State earned their first victory over then-#11 Pittsburg State since 2013 with an 80-76 result last week. It also marked their first win over the Gorillas in Pittsburg since 1997. Deyanna Douglas had 19 of the team's 35 first half points and would match a career high with 24 total points in the win. The RiverHawks took an 18-point swing in points off turnovers (30-12), guided by 15 steals, their most in a conference game since 2003. NSU also saw an 18-point swing in their favor on points off the bench and 12-point favorable margin in points in the paint.

Last Saturday, NSU's six-game winning streak was snapped in an 85-75 loss to Missouri Southern. The Lions connected on 14 more free throws than Northeastern, who struggled to keep their top players in the matchup. Seven players collected at least three fouls, including all five starters. Reese Shirey led the RiverHawks with 16 points, her highest total since the team's season opener on Nov. 14, 2025.

About #8 Fort Hays State
The Tigers (19-2, 10-2 MIAA) saw their 12-game winning streak, at the time the sixth-longest in the nation, come to an end on Saturday in an 81-69 defeat to Central Missouri. Talexa Weeter paced the team's offense, scoring 35 points to mark her eighth showing of at least 30 scored for the campaign.

Weeter is the nation's leading scorer (28.1 PPG, next most in MIAA is UCM's Reese Schaaf w/ 19.2). Weeter is second among qualifiers in the MIAA in field goal percentage (52.3%) and is tied for second in the league in per-game rebounding (8.9).

As a unit, FHSU paces the conference in scoring (76.8 PPG, 16th nationally), field goal percentage (47.8%, fourth nationally), three-point percentage (36.4%, 12th nationally), assists per game (19.9, also first nationally), opposing field goal percentage (36%) and opposing three-point percentage (26.7%). The Tigers are also third in blocks per game (4.1) and fourth in rebounding (40.8 RPG).

The Series: FHSU leads the series, 21-4. Three of four wins in the series for Northeastern have occurred at home. Across NSU's four-game losing streak, the RiverHawks have not scored more than 60 points in an individual contest.

About Nebraska Kearney
The Lopers (11-12, 4-8 MIAA) have lost three straight and are 1-6 in true road games this season. They battle Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday before they complete a brief two-game road trip in Tahlequah on Saturday.

UNK ranks as one of the top shooting teams in the league, sitting third in both field goal percentage (42.1%) and three-point conversion rate (32.5%). The team is tied for fifth in scoring (71.7 PPG) and also ranks in the top five in assists per game (13.9), turnover margin (3.2), and steals per game (9.7).

Individually, Myleigh Weers leads the offense in scoring (15.6 PPG), entering the week with at least 20 points in nine games. Jillian Aschoff is second in scoring (13.9 PPG) and is one of the top players at ending opposing possessions on the roster, holding 132 defensive rebounds and 35 steals.

The Series: UNK leads the series, 3-19, with each win for NSU occurring at home. The RiverHawks claimed the most recent meeting in Tahlequah, earning a 74-71 triumph.

Up Next
The RiverHawks travel in the middle of February for contests against Central Missouri (Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.) and Washburn (Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m.).