WINFIELD, Kan. - Rogers State women's basketball jumped to an early lead and never looked back against Southwestern College for the 76-55 win in Stewart Field House on Wednesday night.

The Hillcats were led by senior forward Candice Stewart with a double-double. The Chesapeake, Va. native posted 17 points and a career high 12 rebounds. Stewart had opponents spinning circles in the paint as she twisted her way to the basket on a night when the Hillcats scored 56 points in the paint.

RSU opened the game on an 8-0 run over the host Lady Builders. The Hillcats stretched the lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half with a score of 17-4. Missed opportunities by Southwestern College and costly turnovers were capitalized by the Cats who entered the intermission leading 42-23.

RSU forced the Lady Builders into 12 first half turnovers with the Cats turning nine of those into steals.  The Hillcats scored all but six points inside the paint in the first half with Stewart tallying 12 points in the period.

Point guard Cortney Crockett had a season low 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field but the Cats capitalized on 13 points by Angie Criner. The Jenks, Okla. native, Criner, finished with 6 rebounds as RSU outrebounded the Lady Builders 47-42.

Southwestern turned the ball over 25 times in the game as RSU finished with 15 steals. The Lady Builders were led in scoring by Oklahoma City University transfer Brett Bates with 14. RSU held SWC to 27 percent shooting from the field and a putrid 16 percent from behind the arc.

RSU shot 25 percent from 3-point range while knocking down 45 percent from the field.

The Hillcats record moves to 4-0 on the season while Southwestern College is 4-1 after the defeat at the hands of RSU.

RSU will head back on the road Saturday, Nov. 20 to face the Langston Lady Lions, tip time is set for 2 p.m.