The headline: Saturday afternoon when the RiverHawks hit the floor it will be head coach Randy Gipson’s 500th career game at Northeastern State. In his 18th season, NSU has won 311 times and earlier this season he won his 600th career game on the same floor in Edmond. NSU sophomore Rylie Torrey is fifth in the MIAA through six games with 18.2 points per outing for the RiverHawks and from the arc she is averaging three treys a game which is third in the league.
The series: The RiverHawks own the series lead 37-22 over the Bronchos with their first meeting coming in during the 1979-80 season. Northeastern State has won their last three contests against UCO and in the last ten, NSU has won eight times.
Last time out for NSU: Cailyn Long and Rylie Torrey paced the RiverHawks with 15 points each but cold shooting in the second and third quarters proved to be the difference at home in a 74-50 loss to Missouri Western. The RiverHawks went 4-for-20 from the field in the middle two periods while making only one trey during that span. Northeastern State had the edge in offensive glass with nine to MWSU’s six; the Griffons led in overall rebounding 34-to-29. Missouri Western was averaging over 13 steals a game prior to their contest on Wednesday but was limited to just five against the RiverHawks.
Last time out for UCO: Central Oklahoma led as many as 25 points to hold off Northwest Missouri State 68-58 on Wednesday night in Edmond. Prior to playing the Bearcats, UCO went through a 13-day break without a game, with Northwest Missouri out-scoring the Bronchos 41-30 in the second half. Melinda Murillo led UCO with 24 points.