CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State women's basketball team tallied its highest point total of the season on Thursday night with a 98-80 victory over St. Edwards at the Claremore Expo.
DaNara Day led the charge for the Hillcats with a game-high 32 points, shooting 81 percent from the field during the contest. The 32-point outing is the third highest single-game point total in program history.
The Hillcats came out strong in the second half with a pair of three-pointers, pushing the RSU lead to 19 points but the Hilltoppers climbed back into the game with a 23-7 run that depleted the RSU lead to just three points with 11 minutes to play. RSU had a response thanks to an impressive display by Day who took over with a 13-2 run, including consecutive three-pointers to push the Hillcat lead back to 14 points. RSU led by double digits the rest of the way, claiming the win over the Hilltoppers (11-5, 6-4).
The teams traded buckets to start the game but RSU took the first double digit lead of the night with an 8-0 run capped off by back-to-back treys by Katy Harsen and Taylor Jeffs. The Hilltoppers battled back but RSU answered with a 13-2 spurt that led to a 13 point advantage with eight minutes remaining in the half. The Hillcats held the double digit lead throughout the remainder of the stanza, taking a 50-35 advantage into the locker room at intermission.
Mikaila Newton tallied her first double-double of the season with 23 points while hauling in 10 rebounds. Harsen registered 17 points and Jeffs rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points on the night. Jeffs was perfect from the field on the night, going 2-for-2 from long distance. The Hillcats had a stellar night shooting, tallying 11 three-point while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and converting 82.1 percent from the charity stripe. RSU won the battle on the boards 48-39.
Maddie Wheeler led the Hilltoppers in scoring with 22 points while Erika Rousculp registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.
Rogers State (6-12, 3-9 HC) returns to action on Saturday as the Hillcats take on McMurry at 1 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.
