by DENTON, Texas – A hot four-quarter by the RiverHawks assisted in giving them a rare win south of the Red River on Tuesday with Northeastern State (6-4) slicing past Texas Woman’s (5-5) 66-58 at Kitty Magee Arena. Miranda Griffin paced Northeastern State with a career high 16-points and Cenia Hayes (Cherokee) having a career high 11 rebounds, along with 7 points, against the Pioneers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Northeastern State opened the contest with five answered points but both teams struggled in the opening quarter making three-shots each to finish the period tied 9-9.
- The lead exchanged hands five times before Griffin had a jumper with 47-seconds left in the half to tie the game at 20; Hayes pushed the RiverHawks ahead with a bucket while being fouled, she would sink the free-throw to let NSU take a three-point lead at the intermission.
- TWU opened the second half with a quick bucket before NSU went scored six unanswered points to lead 30-22 with 7:22 left in the third period.
- The Pioneers closed the gap and were within one (34-33) following a layup by Alexis Nezianya with 3:34 in the period.
- After trading buckets with the RiverHawks, TWU tied the game at 38 on a Nezianya layup with 1:38 remaining in the third.
- Griffin and Hayes both hit shots to pull NSU ahead 42-38 after three-periods.
- Texas Woman’s took advantage of a three-minute dry spell from the field by NSU to take the lead on a three-pointer by Whitney Apari with 6:26 left in the contest.
- Cailyn Long hit a three-pointer with 5:16 and 4:10 remaining to spark a 10-2 run to overtake TWU, 59-54, with 1:47 left.
- The Pioneers went the final 4:29 without a made bucket and fouled the RiverHawks in the final minutes to extend the game to no-avail.
NOTABLES
- Northeastern State shot 7-for-11 (63.3-percent) in the final period with Long having eight of NSU’s 24 points.
- The RiverHawks have won three games in a row in Texas; however, 2011 New Years was the last time they played south of the Red River.
- Northeastern State has surpassed their 2016-17 win total through ten games this season
UP NEXT
- Northeastern State will close out 2017 at home on Dec. 30 hosting Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. in the NSU Event Center.
