RiverHawks Host Drury Saturday
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Northeastern State women return to Jack Dobbins Field House Saturday afternoon to battle Great Lakes Valley Conference leader Drury University. The RiverHawks and Panthers will tip-off at 2 p.m.
Northeastern State is fresh off an impressive 72-51 victory over Lone Star Conference South Division member Texas A&M-Kingsville. The RiverHawks are 7-3 for the year and are 2-0 in LSC crossover play.
The Panthers are 2-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play and 6-2 overall after defeating conference members St. Joseph's 88-51 and Illinois-Springfield 92-56 last weekend.
Drury leads the all-time series with Northeastern State 7-1, including a 75-65 win at Springfield, Mo., a year ago.
"Drury is a very good team and they will come in here ready to play," said NSU head coach Randy Gipson. "They have been off since last Saturday, so they will come in here well prepared. It's going to take a top flight effort for us to beat them on Saturday."
The two clubs have played one common opponent this season Southwest Baptist University. The RiverHawks defeated the Bearcats on their home floor 71-67, and Drury also won at SWB 76-58.
The Panthers, the unanimous pick to win the West Division of the Great Lakes Valley, are averaging 84.7 points a game and allowing the opposition just 65.6 points a contest. Northeastern State enters with a 63.3 scoring average and a LSC leading defense of 54.4 points a game.
Lindsay Ballweg, 5-10 senior forward, tops the Panthers' scoring chart with an 18.1 average and is shooting 61.2 percent from the field. Ballweg is also the Panthers top 3-point shooter (33-54) at 66.1 percent.
Drury also has two other players that are scoring in double figures, Melaine Oliver, 5-11 senior forward, at 14.2 points and Katie Pritchard, 5-9 sophomore guard, who is averaging 14.1 points. Oliver leads the Panthers in rebounding. She has grabbed 82 boards on the year for a 9.1 average.
Jessica White, a senior from Jenks, had her best shooting night of the season against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday night as she went 5-of-7 from behind the arc and finished with 17 points to lead the RiverHawks' scoring.
Jasmine Webb continues to lead the RiverHawks in scoring with an 11.2 scoring average, followed by Alix Perkins at 9.1 a game.
Following the Drury game the RiverHawks return to Lone Star Conference play at Angelo State and Abilene Christian on Dec. 19th and 20th respectively.
