by PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Northeastern State women’s basketball team lost 84-48 to No. 7 Pittsburg State University Wednesday evening inside John Lance Arena.
The RiverHawks fell to 10-13 overall this season and 6-10 in MIAA play, while PSU improved to 24-3 and 14-2 in league play.
Junior guard Kate Bellamy had 13 points to lead NSU. Fontana Tate (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) finished with 10 points. The senior guard hit three shots from beyond the arc. Freshman forward Bria Pierce also finished with 10 points. Pierce scored in double figures for the third game in a row.
NSU shot 28.8 percent (15-for-52) from the field, 25.0 percent (6-for-24) from behind the arc and 80.0 percent (8-for-10) at the line. PSU shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the field, 44.8 percent (13-for-29) from 3-point range and 100 percent (11-for-11) at the charity stripe.
Lizzy Jeronimus led the Gorillas with 18 points. Cathy Brugman chipped in 17 points. Mikaela Burgess and Morgan Westhoff both finished with 15 points.
The RiverHawks took a 6-4 lead with 17:56 left in the first half when Bellamy was fouled on a made lay-in and converted the free throw. Burgess then hit the first of 13 made Gorilla three-pointers, and No. 7 ranked Pittsburg State would hold on to the lead the rest of the game.
PSU outrebounded the RiverHawks 42-29. The Gorillas also held the edge in points in the paint (16-10), assists (21-7) and bench points (56-11).
Northeastern State will next host Central Oklahoma. The game is set to tip-off at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 21.
