CLAREMORE, Okla. – Despite the frigid temperatures and winter weather warnings outside the Claremore Expo Thursday evening, the Rogers State women's basketball team kept those in attendance warm with a 71-63 victory over Texas-Permian Basin.
The victory marks the first for the Hillcat women's program as members of the Heartland Conference as four RSU players reached double digit scoring. Senior guard Katy Harsen led all scorers as she totaled 17 points with three 3-pointers for the Hillcats.
In the first half the two teams tied five times including a 33-33 score with 1:41 remaining before the break. But coach Roxanne Long's squad closed out the first half with a pair of treys including one from Taylor Jeffs as the senior forward finished with 14 points off the bench. RSU entered the intermission leading 41-36.
The UTPB Falcons wouldn't go away quietly as they fought back to gain the advantage on three free throw makes by Giselle Loya putting UTPB ahead 46-44 with 15:02 remaining.
UTPB would hold the lead until Harsen drilled a jumper at the 7:29 mark to tie the contest and Jeffs connected on her second 3-pointer of the evening to gain the lead. Back-to-back buckets by Valerie Barriga and Katreese Locket would give the Falcons back the lead for the final time at 58-56. RSU would close out the final 6:12 of the contest outscoring UTPB (2-5, 1-2 HC) 13-5 for the 71-63 home conference win.
Clarissa Cannon reached double digit scoring for the fifth time this season with 17 points to help hault the Hillcats losing streak. Mikaila Newton finished with 11 points as the Hillcats shot 42 percent from the field and made a team season high nine 3-pointers in the win. The nine treys made by RSU helped the Cats register its best 3-point shooting night on the season at 43 percent.
Two Falcons reached double digit scoring led by Barriga with 15 points. UTPB connected on 40 percent from the field but were outrebounded by the Hillcats 38-28.
Rogers State (2-5, 1-3 HC) is scheduled to face Lubbock Christian in the third and final Heartland Conference home game this week at 1 p.m. Saturday inside the Claremore Expo. RSU Radio 91.3FM will provide live play-by-play while live video streaming will be simulcast on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
With the winter weather warnings forecasted in the surrounding area, any changes to the schedule will be provided via the official website for Hillcat Athletics, www.rsuhillcats.com.
