Box Score MIAMI — Starting a three-day stretch with three games, the Northeastern A&M Norse opened defense of their Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference crown with a 64-49 victory Thursday night over Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa in the NEO Field House.
With the victory coach Jim Rowland's Norse are 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the conference. The Lady Mavericks are 6-3 on the year and 0-1 in the league.
The Norse travel to West Memphis, Ark., Friday and Saturday, to compete in the Mid-South Classic. NEO squares off against North Arkansas Community College (7-1) from Harrison, Ark., at 4 p.m. Friday. The Norse conclude the classic at 2 p.m. Saturday against host Mid-South Community College (1-5).
While holding the Lady Mavericks scoreless (0-12) from 3-point range in the first half, NEO built a 27-18 margin at halftime. 
Veteran point-guard Melinda Murillo scored nine of her game-high 16 total points in the first half while freshman Shalie McAlister contributed five points.
NEO concluded the game by connecting on 10 of 34 from 3-point range while the Lady Mavs managed only 4 of 22 from the arch. 
Along with Murillo's 16 points, the Norse received 9 from Asia McCaskill, McAlister 8, Kamry Chamberlain 6, Nikola Nedorocikova 6, Yamile Rodriguez 6, Brittney Rufus 5, Sarah Short 2, La'Quacious Adams 2, Treka Franklin 2 and Chanel Akins 2.
Sophomore forward Raetchel Gray led all scorers with 18 points for the Lady Mavs while Madison Wilson tallied 8, Jamee Moore 7, Alicia Sandlin 5, Darin Hill 4, Jaclyn McKnight 3, Jaslynn Boyce 2 and Kylee Severin 2.