CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State's opportunity to post a fourth straight victory came crashing down with seven and a half minutes remaining in Tuesday night's contest at the Claremore Expo.
 

Playing with just eight players in uniform, the Hillcats handled Southeastern Oklahoma State's constant full court pressure and relentless substitutions. They withstood an early scoring barrage by the Savage Storm and climbed back from a 14-point first half deficit. However, when Katie Rice was knocked to the floor while fighting for a loose ball and couldn't get up, the Storm took the wind out of the Cats sails.
 

Rice, dazed from a head-to-hardwood fall, was forced to leave the game while in the midst of the best offensive performance of her career. In 26 minutes she had posted a career-high 20 points to put RSU in front, 72-68. Southeastern took full advantage in her absence. The Hillcats were down to seven able bodies and only one post player. Forwards Jasmine Hughey and Destiny Brown combined to score the next four buckets for the Storm on the interior.
 

Brown regained the lead for Southeastern with 4:10 to play and the Storm never looked back. Southeastern outscored RSU 24-9 in the seven and a half minutes following Rice's exit. It was a disheartening end to a well-played game for the Hillcats.
 

Southeastern came out on fire in the first half and staked a 48-40 halftime lead after nailing eight 3-pointers in the opening period. RSU opened the second half with 19 points over the first five and a half minutes to take the lead. Autumn Thompson completed a 3-point-play with a free throw to give the Cats a 59-58 advantage with 14:27 to play. Freshman Meagan Selvidge extended the lead on the first shot of her RSU career at the 8:16 mark of the second half. The Coweta product buried a long trey to make it 72-68 and the Cats appeared to have all the momentum. But moments later the momentum was squashed when Rice and two Southeastern players got tangled up in the paint.
 

Both teams shot the ball exceptionally well. RSU hit 52 percent of its shots from the floor as did the visitors. However, the Storm connected on 12-of-23 shots from beyond the arc while the Hillcats made just 2-of-9 shots from downtown. Hughey finished with a game-high 23 points while Brown added 14 points and nine rebounds. Rice led RSU with her fourth consecutive double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds, despite missing the final seven-plus minutes.
 

Rogers State (4-2) will take a week off before opening up Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Hillcats will host John Brown Tuesday night at the Claremore Expo. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.