Strong 2nd Half Propels RiverHawks

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. ---  Northeastern State rallied from an 8 point halftime deficit to overtake Texas Woman's University with a 24-8 run to open the second half to capture a 75-67 Lone Star Conference North Division victory Wednesday night at Jack Dobbins Field House.

The win gives the RiverHawks sole possession of the Lone Star North Division with a 5-0 record and 16-4 overall mark. Texas Woman's is now 10-7 and 4-1. It was Northeastern State's sixth consecutive win and  13 of its last 15 games.

"They (Texas Woman's) took the game to us in the first half, but fortunately we  were able to adjust, defend better in the second half and make the plays we needed offensively," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson.

"This was a good win. But anyone of these wins is good. But it was a real good lesson for our team that its going to be very tough every night from here on in."

The RiverHawks shot 68 percent in the second half (17-of-25) and finished 58.5 percent for the game (31-of-53). Cristy Nitz led the way for Northeastern State with 18 points draining 8-of-9 from the field and 1-of-1 from the line.

"This was a great game, Texas Woman's played hard , we had to compete hard, they came in here ready to play, said Nitz. "I was a little surprise by the zone they came out in. They were looking for some way to guard us, man or zone. It took them awhile to get in sync."

Nitz said the adjustments at halftime were the difference in the outcome.

"Coach told  us we have to get them stopped," said Nitz." He told us we couldn't let (Megan) Hashman score. She had a great game and we had to stop her from her drive and that was pretty much it in the second half. And we had to go out and play harder, better defense. We got her stopped.," said Nittz.

Nitz was followed by Alix Perkins with 12 points with Jasmine Webb and Jessica White with 10 points each.

Trailing 41-33 at the half, the RiverHawks rolled to a 57-48 lead with 12:30 remaining in the game. Texas Woman's led by a point 45-44  before Nitz hit a turn-around jumper in  the paint with 15:39 left in the game to put the RiverHawks ahead for good.

The RiverHawks stretched its lead  to 11 points in the second half 70-59 with 3:50 remaining in the game. The Pioneers came no closer than four points the rest of the game, that coming with 36 seconds left in the game, 71-67.

The RiverHawks then put the game away by connecting on four consecutive free throws, two by Alix Perkins and two by Megan Fraley.

The Pioneers' Megan Hashman, who scored 22 first half points was held to four in the second half to finish with 26 to take game scoring honors. TWU also got double-figure s coring from Jessica Hanna with 11.

"Alix (Perkins) gave us some defensive presence on their point guard (Keshia Bolds)  and enable us to extend our defense," said Gipson. "We just wanted to get more aggressive and establish a more defensive presence.

"It started with Alix out front and ;then our post people, Jasmine (Webb) was really good in the second half, even taking a charge. Kendra (Dean) also gave us some good quality intense execution in the second half as well."

Texas Woman's shot a blistering 61 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play for a 41-33 lead at the intermission.

The Pioneers Hashman led the offensive attack with 22 points connecting on 8-0f-9 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free throw line.

The RiverHawks shot 50 percent from the floor (14-28) with Dean and Nitz leading the NSU scoring with 9 points each.

Texas Woman's largest lead of  the half was 8 points 37-29 with 3:59 remaining in the half. The first half was tied five times with five lead exchanges.

The RiverHawks led by 4 points, their largest of the half 17-13 with 13:44 remaining on two consecutive baskets by Nitz. However the RiverHawks lost its lead with 8:37 remaining when Hashman drained two free throws and never relinquished it the remainder of the half.