RiverHawks Lose Heartbreaker

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Northeastern State jumped out to an early lead but could not sustain it as St. Mary's  overcame the RiverHawks to take a 60-56 victory in the St. Mary's Classic Friday night.

The loss dropped Northeastern State to 3-2 for the season as they look to Saturday's contest with University of Texas-Permain Basin (1-1) at 2 p.m. Southeastern State defeated UTPB in the opening game 68-49 at Bill Greehey Arena.  Southeastern and St. Mary's ( 2-0) will tangle at 4 p.m.

St. Mary's shot 52 percent from the field (19-of-36) with Chastity Noble scoring 18 points to lead the Rattlers' attack. Kristen Williams and DeAnna Patterson each score 12 points in the win. The Rattlers were 17-of-23 at the free throw line.

The RiverHawks' scoring was led by Sarah Green's 12 points with Cristy Nitz adding 11. Northeastern State shot 43 percent from the field (21-of-48) and were 12-of-14 from the stripe.

"They (St. Mary‘s) really came to play and it was a game that went back-and-forth," said Northeastern State head coach Randy Gipson. "I guess we blinked one more time than they did, that's what it amounted too.

"I wasn't disappointed in the effort of our team. We failed to make a few plays down the stretch that could have helped us pull it out.  But it wasn't a lack of trying. We just came up a little short,'' said Gipson.

The game was tied eight times and there was three lead changes.

Northeastern State jumped out to a 9-0 lead to open the game as Sarah Green opened the game with a 3-point basket, followed by a basket and free throw by Jasmine Webb and a 3-pointer by Megan Fraley, her only points of the game.

"We got the lead early, but the shots we hit were not easy shots,'' said Gipson. "We made some tough shots and when those shots didn't keep dropping they fought their way back into it."

The RiverHawks trailed at the half 25-23 as the Rattlers rallied to take the lead behind Noble.

The RiverHawks  held its last lead of the game 40-38 with 8:21 remaining when Jasmine Wright hit a jumper.

The Rattlers tied the game at 40-all on a layup by Mareta Bailey. Two foul shots by Noble put the Rattlers on top 42-40 for good with 7:23 left as the RiverHawks could never regain the advantage.

St. Mary's stretched its lead to six points 58-52 at the 1:19 mark, and the RiverHawks closed to within two points on buckets by Christy Nitz and Green, 58-56 with four seconds remaining. However, St. Mary's Patterson sank two free throws after being fouled by Jessica White to get the win.

"This game was up for grabs all the way to the end,"said Gipson. "We were trying to trap and steal and get back into it. Finally we had to  foul them. They had to make two free throws to make it a four-point game," said Gipson.