MUSKOGEE, Okla. - Rogers State gutted out a one point victory over Bacone College in the women's basketball season opener Tuesday night in Muskogee, Okla.
 

The Lady Warriors nearly completed a furious comeback in front of a boisterous home crowd at the Palmer Center. Courtney Dixon scored 18 second half points to bring Bacone back from a 12 point deficit in the waning moments. The 5'10 junior's final shot missed strong off the back iron as time expired and the Hillcats held on for a hard fought 67-66 win.
 

RSU built an 11 point lead in the first half and led 62-50 with five minutes remaining in the game. Dixon's antics and inspired defensive play by Bacone forced the Cats to sweat it out until the final buzzer. RSU managed to pick up the win despite having only eight available players for the contest.
 

Sophomores Katie Rice and Hunter Peterson led the Hillcats with 13 points apiece. Rice went 5-for-7 from the floor and also posted a team-high seven rebounds. Sophia Piggie and Effanesia Baker gave RSU a lift off the bench in the early going as they combined for 13 first half points. Piggie hit two treys late in the first half to push the Hillcat lead to 11 points at the break.
 

The Cats kept Bacone in the game with 10 second half turnovers. However, RSU hit 7-of-9 free throws down the stretch and came up with the one stop it had to have at the end to seal the win.
 

All eight players in uniform scored at least two points and tallied at least two rebounds for the Hillcats. Junior guard Autumn Thompson finished with eight points and four assists in her RSU debut. Sophomore Andrea Miles added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.
 

Rogers State (1-0) improved to 2-0 in season openers. The Hillcats knocked off Oklahoma Wesleyan in the 2007-08 opener at the Claremore Expo. Coach Amy Williams' team will have little time to celebrate Tuesday's victory. The Hillcats will face the University of Arkansas Wednesday evening in Fayetteville, Ark. Tip-off at Bud Walton Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.