by By Ronan Khalsa, NSU Communications
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Northeastern State (3-6 in MIAA) women’s basketball had two players with double-doubles for the first time since 2010 and held off Newman (2-6 in MIAA) 60-46 on their home court Saturday afternoon.
Zaria Collins had 20 points to go with a career-high 11 rebounds and Cenia Hayes (Cherokee) finished with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double while Shae Sanchez dished out a career-high eight assists.
“I think they got on the glass which was important today, to win that battle,” head coach Fala Bullock said. “Cenia shot it so well to start the game and I can’t say enough about Z and what she brings with that stability piece. She got on the glass today and it was great to see her get her finishes and just to be a rebounder.”
“Those guys can shoot it and they had a tough night but our ladies did a great job getting to the glass and ripping down rebounds. We looked a little tougher than we did Thursday night.”
The RiverHawks came out of the locker room on fire bursting out to a 10-0 and forced three Newman turnovers before the Jets eventually scored at the 4:45 mark. Though the Jets made a 10-0 run lead themselves to knot it with 1:55 in the first quarter, NSU’s sophomore forward Collins laid it in before senior guard Hayes knocked down two 3-pointers to push the lead to 18-12. For the quarter Northeastern State made 4-7 of its attempts, tying a season-high.
In the second stanza, Newman’s Faith Mason-Vestal got in a groove offensively scoring nine of its 14 points, she led the Jets with 15 points for the game. The RiverHawks continued to run the offense through Collins as she tossed a shot off the top of the backboard that somehow fell in. At the 4:41 mark redshirt-freshman, Tess Talo Tomokino, made an and-1 layup as she dipped through the defense that collapsed on Collins. At the halftime break, NSU led by a slim margin, 28-26.
The third quarter saw Northeastern State shoot 47.1 percent to lead 44-38 with one 10-minute stanza to go. Collins got on a roll seemingly making everything she put up in the third following a junior Maegan Lee steal and outlet pass at the 5:11 mark.
The RiverHawks held the Jets scoreless the final 5:02 of the game where the visitors shot just 13.6 percent from the floor. When junior Morgan Lee drew a charge with 2:52 remaining the NSU Event Center came alive and NSU closed out the game, winning the quarter 16-8.
It was the first win for the Northeastern State since Nov. 21, 2020, and the team is now 3-2 at home on the season.
