From NSU Sports Information
WOMEN
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Northeastern State women’s basketball team was defeated 63-52 by No. 15 Central Missouri Wednesday night inside the Multipurpose Building.
The RiverHawks (8-5, 3-2 MIAA) saw their recent four-game win streak halted, while the Jennies (11-1, 3-1 MIAA) moved to 8-0 at home this season.
Senior guards Taylor Lewis and Tosha Tyler both shot 7-for-13 from the field and combined for 36 points. NSU shot 40 percent from the field (22-for-55) and 33 percent from downtown (6-for-18). The team led in steals (10-5) and points in the paint (26-16).
UCM shot 41 percent from the field (24-for-59), made 46 percent of its three’s (11-for-24) and led in rebounding 44-29.
The Jennies took an early 8-2 lead, but the RiverHawks were able to tie the game at 13-13 coming out of the second media timeout.
UCM regained a six-point edge at 23-17 with five minutes remaining in the opening half, but the visitors battled to a 25-25 tie at halftime.
Northeastern State took over in the second half and was able to build a six-point lead of its own at 46-40 with 8:08 remaining.
NSU kept the advantage at 49-43, but the shots stopped falling and the home team ended the contest on a 20-3 run to secure the 63-52 victory.
BreAnna Lewis led Central Missouri with 25 points. Keuna Flax dropped 21, and Quinnecia Twine added 10. Nicole Caddell was 0-for-7 but grabbed 10 rebounds.
The RiverHawks will next face Southwest Baptist at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in Bolivar, Mo.
MEN
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Northeastern State men’s basketball team dropped a 77-69 decision to Central Missouri Wednesday night at UCM Multipurpose Building.
The RiverHawks (10-3, 3-2 MIAA) lost their second in a row, while the Mules (9-3, 3-1 MIAA) picked up their third-straight win.
Senior forward Jermaine Bransford recorded his sixth double-double in the last seven games, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Junior guard Bryton Hobbs dropped 25 points and senior guard Ethan Anderson added 14.
Northeastern State shot 50 percent from the field (26-for-52) and 39 percent from behind the three-point line (5-for-13). Central Missouri shot 44 percent from the field (24-for-55) and 38 percent from behind the arc (6-for-16).
The two teams took an 11-11 draw into the first media timeout, but a 16-2 run by the home side gave UCM a 27-13 edge at the 7:24 mark. The Mules used that run to coast to a 35-22 advantage at halftime.
The RiverHawks battled back the entire second half, chipping into the lead all the way down to 60-59 with 3:44 to play.
With NSU down 64-62, junior forward Marcus Sheppard missed the front end of a 1-and-1, and then missed a three-point shot that would have given Northeastern State the lead. Central Missouri went on a 7-0 run and was never again threatened.
Dominique Long and Lance Beckwith both led UCM with 17 points each. Widgett Washington added 15 for the home side.
Northeastern State will now head to Bolivar, Mo., for a 7:30 p.m. tilt Jan. 12 with Southwest Baptist.
Cedrique Flemming is the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at Northeastern State University.