RiverHawks Pummel UCO, Take LSC North Division Lead
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State had four players score in double figures and shot 52 percent to overwhelm Central Oklahoma 81-66 and move into first place in the Lone Star Conference North Division before a packed Jack Dobbins Field House on Athletics Hall of Fame Day and Pack the House Pink Day Saturday afternoon.
The RiverHawks locked up at least a No. 2 seed in the LSC Tournament March 3-7 at Bartlesville and can earn the top seed with two wins in the final two games of the regular season.
The RiverHawks will take a 22-5 season record and 11-1 LSC North Division mark into Wednesday's Senior Night at Jack Dobbins Field House against Cameron University. The loss drops UCO behind the RiverHawks at 19-6 and 10-2.
Northeastern State extended its winning streak to six straight and 12 of their last 13 games.
"It was a struggle early but we went on a run late in the first half with 3 or 4 good defensive stops and scored several times to put us into the locker room feeling good (leading 36-27)," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson.
"Our ladies did a good job coming out in the second half and staying aggressive. We now control our own destiny and we just have to take care of business one at a time. We are happy to be in first place. Our first goal in the season was to be North Division champions and it's definitely in our sights. We just have to keep our concentration and finish the job," said Gipson.
Sophomore Jasmine Webb led the Northeastern State offensive attack with 21 points and she pulled down 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
"I really wanted this one," said Webb. "Our seniors hadn't beaten them and this was just extra motivation. It's even sweeter to get into first place."
Megan Fraley was sizzling from behind the arc, draining 6-of-10, to finish with 20 points. It was a season and career high, topping her previous best of 14 points. Kendra Dean and Taylor Lewis added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
"Megan was great today, there's no question," said Gipson. "She managed the ball well and defended their guards. And, of course, she had a great shooting day. It's great to see her play her best ball of the season here."
Fraley said she was "very excited" about playing UCO. "We really didn't play well down there, and I just wanted to come into this game and give everything I had. This really feels good (first place). That was one of our goals. We still have to go next week and get two strong wins. But this is pretty sweet to beat our arch-rival and get first place"
Fraley's previous best in shooting treys came in her freshman year in high school when she drained eight.
Northeastern State connected on 33-of-64, including 12-of-28 from behind the arc in the game. NSU also out rebounded the Bronchos 41-29.
The RiverHawks held the Bronchos to a 37 percent shooting (22-of-59). Ashley Beckley led the UCO scoring with 15 points followed by Alyssa Fuxa's 12.
The first half was tied five times with six lead changes before the RiverHawks went on an 11-4 run in the final 6:03 of the half to take a 36-27 lead at the intermission.
Northeastern State increased its lead to 22 points in the final half 69-47 with 5:43 remaining on Fraley's sixth 3-point basket of the game. The Bronchos came no closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Northeastern State was deadlocked at 25-all at 6:03 in the first half when the Bronchos' Beckley scored giving UCO the lead 27-25 with 4:09 left. It was UCO's last lead of the game as the RiverHawks' Jessica White drained a 3-point shot for a 28-27 NSU advantage at 3:41.
Alix Perkins then made it 30-27 when she rebounded a missed UCO shot and dribbled coast-to-coast to score a layup with 2:28 remaining. Then it was Webb who got into the scoring assault for NSU as she scored back-to-back buckets on a drive down the right side of lane and then scored on a short jumper inside the paint giving the RiverHawks a 7-point advantage 34-27 with 1:09 left.
Dean upped the RiverHawks lead to 9 points when she rebounded her own missed shot and put it back into the basket for a 36-27 NSU lead at the half. Dean led the first half scoring for the RiverHawks with 7 points as NSU shot 46 percent from the field (15-of-32), while holding the Bronchos to 34 percent from the field (11-of-32). Beckley led UCO's first half scoring with 8 points.
