NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS BASKETBALL
WOMEN
The path of the Northeastern State University women’s basketball program continues to a higher flight following a productive offseason combined with an impressive non-conference schedule that produced six victories in seven starts entering play in the always rough and rugged MIAA conference.
Keith Ferguson enters his third season as head coach with a talent filled roster that finally has proven experience top to bottom.
“My first year we didn’t have any freshmen, year two our roster was all seniors and freshmen,” said Ferguson. “This is the first time since I got here that we have a kid in every class. That balance has made competition in practices better and I believe continues to make us a better team overall.”
The experience of last year’s five rookies, now veteran sophomores, is evident when looking at the early season results.
“Whenever you have six kids return, five who played a lot of minutes, it’s to your advantage,” smiled Ferguson. “With a year’s experience, Dyanna (Douglas) and Gracey (Shieldnight) continue to consistently step up their game. Annaston (Brown) can shoot the three as well as score at three levels and Snowda (Watie) is more comfortable in her role at point guard. Getting Reese (Shirey) back from the knee injury is just what the doctor order as far as our roster’s needs.”
After playing just 90-seconds of the season opener before suffering the season ending injury, Shirey adds a perimeter scoring threat in addition distributing scoring chances with Watie while handling the basketball. The pair of guards has combined to total 50-plus assists in the non-conference contests. Yukon native Gabrielle Tilley (5’8, So.) also returns to the hardwood to strengthen the offensive results.
The addition of experienced transfers to the NSU lineup has delivered Ferguson productive results paced by the double-digit scoring of McKenzie Smith, a six-foot redshirt sophomore who transferred from Kansas University along with Australian native and Texas Permian-Basin transfer Makayla Bingley (5-10, Sr.), Oklahoma City University transfer Jazmin Adams (6’0, So.) and Ashley Carrillo (5’7, Sr.) who brings three years game experience to the Tahlequah campus following her move from Presbyterian College, S.C.
“Last year we hade to learn how to play. We’re having success now because of the kids’ approach to working hard in practice everyday,” complimented the NSU coach.
Strengths along with areas for growth still remain for the RiverHawks giving Ferguson a game plan to approach the competition in the M-I-A-A, a league the NSU coach calls the toughest conference in all of Division-II women’s basketball.
“I like our overall size, especially on the wing and perimeter. We’re proving we can shoot the ball with players that can score in bunches and in a variety of ways,” said Ferguson. “How well we guard and how we rebound against the better teams in the league will be the deciding factors of our success.”
After being left out of the conference’s postseason tournament last year, the RiverHawks were picked number-9 in the pre-season coaches’ poll. Eager to prove his point, Ferguson believes the opportunity to return to Kansas City in March is for the taking.
“Every team in this league lost two classes, their Covid class and last year’s seniors leaving a huge vacuum of experience across the league and opening the windows of opportunity,” Ferguson said while evaluating the early poll results. “Nobody in the country had five freshmen playing the minutes we did; and because of that experience and our additions to the roster, I’m excited about the potential of our readiness.”
MEN
Out with the old, in with the new…the familiar phrase best defined the efforts of Northeastern State University head coach Ja Havens when facing the task of filling the 2025-26 roster with playmakers that would give the RiverHawks the opportunity to win the closely contested games and return to the M-I-A-A postseason tournament.
“After losing eight games last year that came down to one or two possessions, we focused on addressing the need to be a much better defensive team,” Havens said with conviction. “The opportunity to have won those games with a more physical and athletic squad is what will separate the top teams in the league again this year.”
The RiverHawks efforts in their non-conference contests has Havens believing his team is on the road to success resulting from the contributions of two returning veterans surrounded by the addition of eight newcomers with the specific skills to meet the needs on both ends of the court.
Ethan Blackmon (6’7, Jr.), the leading scorer and rebounder among returning players in the M-I-A-A after averaging 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds including seven double-double outings reunites with Taven Washington (6’4, Sr.) who came off the bench last season totaling 9.1 points per game as the bulk of returning experience while the impact of the recruiting class is making a positive impact to the NSU prospects for winning the close games.
Xavier Glenn (6’4, Sr.) has finally landed on the Tahlequah campus following stops at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and West Florida following two seasons at Connors State College where he totaled more than 1,000 points.
“His versatility is true bonus for what we want to do,” said Havens. “Xavier can put it on the floor and get to his mid-range spot, post up as well as give us a three-point threat.”
Two key transfers at the guard position from Seminole State College, AJ Reed (6’1, Jr.) and Nehemiah Webber (6’2, Jr.) will be key to meeting Havens expectations.
“Together AJ and Nehemiah gives us the ability to defend the perimeter with a high energy style of play,” said Havens.
The international-style skills of Australian natives Harry Neilson (6-11, Fr.) and Dylan Tea (6-6, Fr.) match the RiverHawks game plan on both ends of the court while the athleticism of Sage Wayans (6’7, Jr.) intensifies the chance to control the boards on either end and Pierce Ross (6’4, Jr.) brings scoring experience after transferring from Kansas City Kansas CC.
Jaxson Vandegarde (6’0, RsNS-So.) and true freshman Ben Hagebusch (6-0, Fr.) give NSU added depth in their quest for winning their way into the MIAA tournament in March.
The RiverHawks commitment to their game plan in non-conference play has Havens believing in his team’s chances.
“Like always, it’s going to be very competitive,” said Havens, now in his sixth year on the Tahlequah campus. “I like our intensity and our will to compete regardless the challenge. We’re talented enough; still yet it’s your habits that determine the results in wins and losses. It’s what keeps coaches like me up late at night trying to figure out what will work from one game to the next.”
