AUSTIN, Texas – Rogers State women's basketball was unable to hold onto a one-point half time lead over St. Edward's as the hometown Hilltoppers topped the Hillcats 64-50 inside the Recreation and Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.
RSU jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the opening 2:27 of action led by Mikaila Newton's five points during the span. But SEU responded cutting the lead to just three points over the next 11 minutes of play. The Hilltoppers tied the contest on a fast break layup by Erika Rousculp at 20-20 with six minutes left before the half.
The two squads combined for just nine points over the final stretch of the first stanza as RSU led 25-24 at the break.
SEU opened the second half with a 13-2 run to lead 37-27 with 14:26 remaining. A Casey Riley layup at the 12:11 mark stretched the lead to 14 points for the Hilltoppers. RSU answered on the backs of Katy Harsen and Mikaila Newton as the duo cut the deficit down to six points with just under seven minutes remaining.
The Hilltoppers would respond with a 3-pointer by Riley building the lead to 49-40 and starting an 11-4 run for SEU capped by a Maddie Wheeler trey with 1:28 to go for a 16 point lead the largest of the game.
The 64-50 loss marks the fourth consecutive loss for the Hillcats and the first four game losing streak since the 2009-10 season.
Rousculp led all scorers with 17 points as she finished with a double-double pulling down 11 rebounds for SEU. Wheeler finished with 15 points as the Hilltoppers outrebounded the Hillcats 48-36. St. Edward's (6-0, 2-0) shot 37.5 percent from the field and just 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Leading the Hillcats in scoring was Harsen for the second consecutive game as the Coweta, Okla. native finished with 16 points. Newton closed the game with 15 points while Clarissa Cannon led RSU with 11 boards to go with eight points. The Hillcats shot 26.8 percent for the afternoon and committed 18 turnovers in the loss.
Rogers State (1-4, 0-2) will next play Newman (Kan.) at the Claremore Expo on Monday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. RSU Radio 91.3FM will provide live play-by-play coverage with a video simulcast available on the Hillcat Network (www.rsuhillcats.com/live).
