CHICHASHA, Okla. - The Rogers State women got back to their winning ways with a 69-57 victory over the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma inside the USAO Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
USAO's Tashina Bailey knocked down a 3-pointer with 15:06 remaining in the first half to give the Lady Drovers their largest lead of the contest at 10-7. Rogers State responded going on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes capped off by a Brittani Smith lay-in. The Coweta, Okla. native dropped seven points and grabbed six rebounds in the opening period, finishing the game with nine points.
The Lady Drovers trimmed the count to a 22-19 Hillcat lead with 8:13 to go in the first stanza off a pair of free throws, followed by a lay-up by Aita Gueye. Rogers State was able to build the lead to build the lead to 32-23 at intermission.
RSU held the lead for the first eight minutes of the second half but a Gueye lay-up gave USAO its first lead in 22 minutes of play. The two teams traded the lead and tied the contest for the third time at 46-46 with nine minutes to go. The Cats went on a 12-1 run capped off at the 6:11 mark by a Cortney Crockett steal and assist for a Logan Froese fast break lay-up. Coach Amy Williams' squad claimed its largest lead of 13 points with 1:36 remaining on a Crockett jumper. Crockett knocked down a 3-pointer to put the score at its final mark of 69-57.
Angie Criner came off the bench to lead the Hillcats in scoring with 15 points. Froese dropped in 13 to the scoring column while Crockett finished with 11 as three Cats scored double-figures. Crockett nabbed five steals as RSU forced the Lady Drovers into 21 turnovers. RSU won the rebounding battle 44-30 and the Hillcats dropped 15 assists.
USAO (7-20, 3-17) had one player, Aita Gueye, score in double figures with 19 points. Gueye nabbed five steals and two blocks for the Drovers who shot 14-of-17 from the charity stripe and 50 percent from behind the three point arc.
Rogers State (18-8, 12-7) heads back to the Claremore Expo for the final home contest of the season, welcoming Oklahoma Baptist on Monday, Feb. 21. The game was originally set for Feb. 3 but was rescheduled due to wintry weather. Tip-time is set for 6 p.m. with the game being broadcast on RSU Public Television and RSU Radio 91.3FM.
