NSU Goes on Road to Play Texas Woman's
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Northeastern State will attempt to take one more step toward its quest of a Lone Star Conference North Division championship Wednesday night in Denton, Texas, when the RiverHawks battle Texas Woman's University. Tip-off at Kitty Magee Arena.is 7 p.m.
The RiverHawks and Central Oklahoma are deadlocked for the North Division lead at 9-1 and will meet Saturday at Jack Dobbins Field House at 2 p.m. for what could be the division championship. UCO plays at Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday
The RiverHawks are currently 20-5 for the season and ranked No. 3 in the South Central Regional poll. Northeastern State rolled over East Central 79-49 in its last outing to lock up a LSC Tournament berth in Bartlesville next month. The RiverHawks have won 10 of its last 11 games and it was their fourth straight victory.
"We are excited that we now know that we are going back to Bartlesville," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson. "We just want to get better and better. We have a chance to play for the championship in this division.
"Texas Woman's will be a tough game for us. They will be ready. They gave us all we wanted here three weeks ago. They are fighting for seeding spots as well for the tournament. I'm sure we'll get their best effort," said Gipson.
Northeastern State had 10 players scored against East Central with 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 three-point shots. Jasmine Webb collected her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Texas Woman's Kayla Weaver scored a team-high 16 points and
grabbed 10 rebounds to help lead TWU to a 58-50 victory over
Southwestern State to snap the Pioneers' three-game losing streak
last Saturday in Denton and improve to 12-10 and 6-4 in the Lone
Star Conference North Division.
Senior Megan Hashman also reached double digits in points with 13
while senior Jessica Durr came off the bench and cleared a
game-high 12 rebounds
In the last meeting between the RiverHawsks and Pioneers, Northeastern State took a 75-67 victory at Jack Dobbins Field House. The two clubs split last season, with each club winning on its home floor. The RiverHawks lead the all-time series 8-5.
The Pioneers enter the NSU clash averaging 74.5 points on offense, led by Jessica Hanna's 14.5 scoring average. She is followed by Megan Hashman's 13.3 and Kayla Weaver's 12.4 points per game. Defensively TWU is giving up 70.5 points to their opponents.
The RiverHawks' Cristy Nitz, who rolled an ankle prior to the East Central game and did not play, is expected to make a full recovery and play against the Pioneers.
"We expect her back," said Gipson. "We held her out of the East Central game as a precaution so she would be ready for Wednesday. We just wanted to make sure we got all the tenderness out of the ankle and the little bit of swelling she had."
