From NSU Sports Information
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Tosha Tyler recorded a rare four-point play with 24.9 seconds left to lift the Northeastern State women’s basketball team to a 46-44 upset win over No. 19 Truman State Saturday afternoon inside Jack Dobbins Field House.
The RiverHawks (16-6, 11-3 MIAA) trailed for the majority of the contest but were able to fight back and pick up their eighth win in their last nine outings.
The Bulldogs (16-5, 9-4 MIAA) became the fifth ranked foe to fall at the hands of Northeastern State this year. The RiverHawks have also knocked off No. 9 Washburn, No. 10 Fort Hays State, No. 18 Pittsburg State, and No. 21 Emporia State. In all five wins, NSU held its opponent to its season low in points.
NSU has rematches with the PSU and ESU on the road on Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, respectively.
The RiverHawks trailed for the first three quarters of the contest but never fell behind by more than seven points. A triple from senior guard Taylor Lewis with 6:12 remaining in the game gave NSU its first lead at 36-34.
The Bulldogs answered with a three of their own when Allie Norton canned a trey at the 5:01 mark.
Senior forward Sarah Green made a layup and junior forward Carrington Fox knocked down a free throw on consecutive possessions to push NSU ahead 39-37 with 3:09 to play, but the advantage exchanged hands again at 1:23 when Amy Briggs swished a three.
Norton made four-straight free throws to hold Northeastern State at bay, and the home side found itself trailing 44-41 with 33 seconds left.
On the next possession, sophomore guard Fontana Tate found the ball at the top of the key and passed to Tyler over on the wing. She hesitated for a split second to get separation, and she used the extra room to hoist up a three.
She was slapped on the arm by TSU’s Megan Sharpe, and the ball sailed straight through the hoop just as the official was blowing his whistle to signal the foul.
Tyler calmly stepped up to the free-throw line to add the go-ahead point, and two empty possessions by the Bulldogs were all the home team needed to record the upset win.
Green was the lone member of the green and white to score in double figures, as she finished with 11. Norton led Truman State with 20 points, and Becka McHenry added 10.
Northeastern State will remain at home for a 5:30 p.m. tilt Feb. 13 with Missouri Southern State. NSU defeated MSSU 69-45 in Joplin, Mo., on Jan. 26.
Cedrique Flemming is the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at Northeastern State University.