RiverHawks Get Win 20, Secure Tourney Bid
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Northeastern State dismantled East Central, taking charge midway the first half, en route to a79-49 Lone Star Conference North Division victory at Jack Dobbins Field House Saturday.
The RiverHawks are now 20-5 for the year and 9-1 in North Division play, while East Central falls to 11-12 and 3-7. The victory locked up a Lone Star Conference Tournament berth in Bartlesville to be played in March. It was also Northeastern State's 10th win in their last 11 games and fourth straight.
It was the RiverHawks second win of the season over East Central for a sweep of the 2009-10 season. NSU rolled to a 90-67 win in the first meeting, the RiverHawks highest point total of the year.
The RiverHawks shot a blistering 57 percent in the opening 20 minutes (16-of-28) including 7-opf-14 from behind the arc in rolling to commanding 47-23 lead and was never contest the remainder of the game.
"We were a little careless in the game, but for the most we did fairly well in the game plan," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson. "We had a stretch of silly turnovers early in the game but after six or seven minutes I thought we really played well both on offense and defense.
"We are excited that we are going back to the tournament now and Bartlesville. We just want to keep getting better. Now we have a chance to play for the championship of this division. We are just going to take it one game at a time," said Gipson.
The RiverHawks had 10 players score in the win led by freshman Taylor Lewis, who scored a season and career high 16 points as she connected on 5-of-10 from the field which included 4-of-7 3point shots. Jasmine Webb's followed with 14 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
"Taylor (Lewis) was ready to shoot," said Gipson. "I thought she did a good job of catching the ball, off the skp passes, having her feet ready to shoot the ball. We know she is capable of really shooting the ball well. Its nice to see her have a breakout game."
Megan Fraley added 11 points and Kendra Dean scored 9 as Northeastern State shot 44 percent for the game (26-of-58) including 11-of-27 from behind the arc (40 percent) and out rebounded the Tigers 49-27.
Defensively Northeastern State held the Tigers to 34 percent from the field (21-of-61) with Indhira Ramirez leading the Tigers' scoring with 11 points.
Northeastern State's largest lead of the game was 33 points, 61-28 with 15:22 remaining in the game. East Central's only lead came two minutes into the game.
NSU and East Central were deadlocked three times the last at 11-all with 11:50 remaining before the RiverHawks went on a 22-4 run, taking a 33-15 advantage with 6:09 remaining in the half.
The RiverHawks held the Tigers to 33 percent shooting from the field 10-of-30 and held a decisive rebounding edge 24-9.
The RiverHawks will travel to Denton, Texas, Wednesday to play Texas Woman's University. NSU will then return home next Saturday to play arch-rival Central Oklahoma in the annual Athletic Hall of Fame game at Jack Dobbins Field House.
