by EMPORIA, Kan. – The Northeastern State women’s basketball team took down No. 9 Emporia State 58-56 in overtime Thursday night inside White Auditorium.
The RiverHawks (10-11, 6-8 MIAA) were able to avenge a 69-36 home loss to the Lady Hornets (18-4, 11-4 MIAA) from earlier this season. NSU is now 4-2 against ESU since 2012-13, and the green and white has now beaten a ranked Lady Hornet squad each of the last three years. The victory also snapped NSU’s six-game losing streak in overtime dating back to Jan. 6, 2011.
Northeastern State held Emporia State to its worst shooting output of the season at 27.1 percent (19-for-70) and its second-worst effort from behind the 3-point line at 17.2 percent (5-for-29). ESU also shot just 68.4 percent (13-for-19) at the free-throw line. This marks the second-straight season that the worst shooting game of the season for the Lady Hornets came at the hands of NSU.
Freshman forward Bria Pierce led the RiverHawks with 12 points, while junior forward Danielle Robertson contributed 10 points to the winning cause. Both players fouled out late in regulation. Senior guard Fontana Tate (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma)tallied eight points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Kate Bellamy posted nine points, five rebounds and a career-high five steals.
NSU shot 37 percent (20-for-54) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from distance and 65 percent (13-for-20) at the free-throw line.
The RiverHawks took a 5-3 lead on a 3-point shot from senior guard Chelsey Beathard at the 17:26 mark of the first half, and they never trailed again. They continued to stretch their lead out and ended up taking a 32-21 advantage into the locker room. The 21 points for ESU was the fewest scored in either half against an MIAA opponent this year.
Northeastern State started the second half on an 11-0 run to pull ahead 43-21. The last time Emporia State trailed by as much as 22 points in any game came way back on Jan. 12, 2013 when Truman State led the Lady Hornets by 26 at one point.
NSU maintained its 22-point advantage up until the 13:25 mark (46-24), but ESU would not go down without a fight. The home team closed the half on a 27-5 run to send the contest into overtime.
Despite allowing the comeback, the RiverHawks regained their composure and held on for the two-point victory in overtime.
Kelly Moten paced ESU with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Merissa Quick added 17 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks.
Northeastern State will look to continue its momentum when the team travels to Topeka, Kansas, for a 5 p.m. tilt Feb. 14 against Washburn University.
