RiverHawks Host No. 12 West Texas A&M
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Northeastern State women put a five-game winning streak on the line Thursday night when the RiverHawks play host to 12th-ranked and Lone Star Conference South Division member West Texas A&M at Jack Dobbins Field House.
Tip-off is 6 p.m. for the Dollar Day game in which admission is $1 and hot dogs are $1.
The Lady Buffs will enter the LSC crossover contest on an 8-game winning streak and a 14-1 record. The RiverHawks are 10-3 on the year and cracked the national rankings for the first time this season, receiving three votes.
West Texas A&M leads the all-time series between the two schools 9-5 with the Lady Buffs winning last years' encounters 79-70 at Canyon, Texas and 66-61 in the LSC Tournament in Bartlesville.
"West Texas is always a challenge and this year will be no different," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson. "My big concern is they have played several games recently (four over the Christmas break) and we will be coming off a 17-day layoff.
"So you are always interested in seeing how your team will respond and get their game legs back after a layoff like that."
The Lady Buffs traveled to Hawaii and won three games the week after Christmas and then returned home to defeat then No. 7-ranked Ft. Lewis, Colo., on Monday night 73-64. The RiverHawks last contest was Dec. 21 when Northeastern State defeated Abilene Christian 66-59.
West Texas A&M is scoring 73.4 points a game led by 6-foot sophomore forward Jamie Simmons, who is averaging 13.4 points and the Lady Buffs top rebounder, pulling down 8.0 caroms a game.
"Simmons is a real athletic player," said Gipson. "She is going to be a focus of our defense. You just have to know where she's at all the time on the court and be physical with her. We'll have to keep her blocked out because she hits the offensive board very hard."
Joni Unruh a 5-10 junior guard follows in the scoring with a 12.8 scoring average followed by Megan McLain, 5-10 junior guard, at 11.1 points a game.
"They have very good scorers and you just have to be aware of the fact that they can score in a lot of different ways," said Gipson.
When Gipson was asked if he thought the Lady Buffs would be fatigue after the air travel and jet lag from Hawaii to Canyon, Texas and then the 7-hour bus trip to Tahlequah, Gipson only smiled and said, "I hope so," adding, "As well as they are playing, they will come in here full of confidence. They will come in here and play really hard.
"We are going to have to have great intensity to meet that challenge," said Gipson.
Both Northeastern State and West Texas A&M are the No. 2 and No. 3 teams respectively in the LSC in scoring defense. The River Hawks are giving up 53.5 points a game to the opposition and the Lady Buffs 56.5 a game.
Offensively the RiverHawks enter the game with a 61.8 scoring average led by 5-11 junior forward Jasmine Webb's 10.6 averages. Webb is also the club's leading rebounder, averaging 5.8 caroms a game. No other RiverHawk is scoring in double-figures.
Alix Perkins, 5-8 sophomore guard and Cristy Nitz, 5-11 sophomore forward, are averaging 8.8 and 8.3 points respectively with Jessica White, 5-9 senior guard and Megan Fraley, 5-5 junior guard scoring 7.8 and 5.3 points respectively.
Gipson said his club has responded very well in practice since returning to NSU after the Christmas break in preparation for the West Texas A&M game.
"They have worked hard and I have no complaints," said Gipson. "They are focused on the game and understand this is going to be a hard game. Our preparations have gone well, so we'll find out for sure on Thursday."
The RiverHawks return to action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for a another Dollar Day contest, playing host to Eastern New Mexico University at Jack Dobbins Field House.
