RiverHawks Roll
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State shot 51 percent from the field (27-of-53) and dismantled Southeastern Oklahoma 77-43 in a Lone Star Conference North Division game Wednesday night at Jack Dobbins Field House.
The RiverHawks remain unbeaten in LSC North play at 3-0 and are 14-4 for the season. Southeastern is now 11-5 and 1-2 in LSC North Division play.
Northeastern State drained 8-of-19 from behind the arc and scored 30 points on Southeastern turnovers, as the RiverHawks forced 19 Savage Storm miscues. Tenacious defensive pressure held Southeastern to just 28 percent from the floor (14-of-50) and 2-of-12 on 3-point attempts.
Junior Jasmine Webb powered the RiverHawks to the win with 16 points and 9 rebounds, just missing a double-double. Webb was outstanding on the defensive end as she held the LSC's preseason Player of the Year, Destiny Brown, to just 2 points and that did not come until the 10:45 mark of the second half with Northeastern State leading 56-30.
"Jasmine (Webb) was really ready to play tonight," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson. "I thought she was really good on both ends of the floor. She accepted the challenge of being the primary defender on Brown. I thought she moved her feet really well and got great position. Then she got her blocked out which is a hard job also. And she was efficient on the offensive end too."
Webb said following the win that she was looking forward to going against Brown.
"It was a challenge playing against her. I just played hard. I set a goal for myself of not letting her score. I wanted to keep her in single digits. I'm very happy, very happy with my play tonight," said Webb.
Alix Perkins followed Webb in the scoring for Northeastern State with 13 points and Jessica White added 10.
Gipson was also a very happy individual following the impressive win over the Savage Storm.
"It was a complete ball game for us," said Gipson. "We came out set the tone, played hard and smart on defense and we rebounded. We played with confidence on both ends of the floor. "
The RiverHawks' largest lead of the game was 34 points 77-43 with 39 seconds remaining when Kendra Dean sank two free throws for the 34-point margin.
Northeastern State streaked to a 10-0 cushion to open the game and increased its margin to 23 points 35-12 with 3:51 on the clock for its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes.
Perkins set the tone of the first half by draining back-to-back treys in the first 45 seconds of play and it was all Northeastern State the remainder of the half. The RiverHawks shot a blistering 53 percent from the floor (14-of=26) including 5-of-12 from behind the arc.
"Alix came out hit those threes and really got us going," said Gipson.
Perkins led the first half assault with 11 points with Webb following with 8 points and hold Brown to no points in the first 20 minutes of action.
Northeastern State held the Savage Storm to just 25 percent from the field (7-of-27) and 1-of-8 on 3-point attempts as it rolled to a 41-22 advantage at the half.
The RiverHawks return to LSC North Division play on the road Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. traveling to Ada to play the East Central Tigers.
