ALVA, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team led wire-to-wire and escaped Percefull Fieldhouse with a 55-54 victory on the road at Northwestern Oklahoma State giving head coach Bobby Cope his first career win.
 
The Hillcats held off a furious Ranger rally in the second half after leading by as many as 19 points in the first stanza. NWOSU had a chance to tie the game with 40 seconds remaining but Kalea King could not add to her game-high 18 points as her two free throw attempts fell off the iron. Stacia Payne intercepted an inbound pass in the final seconds sealing the victory.
 
Jordan Evans scored five early points as RSU raced out to a quick 9-2 lead to open the game and increased that margin with another 9-2 run minutes later capped by a three pointer from Kami Bunch for an 18-8 advantage.
 
After the Rangers scored the next five points, the Hillcats doubled-up the home side, 37-18, with less than five minutes to play before halftime. The stretch was highlighted by three-straight baskets from behind the arc as Mikaila Newton hit once and Jalissa Felici connected on back-to-back possessions. The lead dropped to 13 at the break as NWOSU scored nine of the final 12 points but RSU kept a 40-27 lead heading to the locker room.
 
The run for the Rangers continued in the second half as they kept chipping away at the lead using their pressure defense to propel the offense to a 20-2 run getting within one, 42-41, at the mid-point of the second half.
 
RSU went back in front by seven, 55-48, as Newton beat the shot clock with a three pointer from the corner with 3:34 to play and the lead was just enough as NWOSU scored the final six points but could not get past the Hillcats in its home opener.
 
Newton led RSU with 14 points going 6-for-8 from the floor before fouling out while Felici came off the bench to reach double figures for the first time in her career with 10 points. Payne dished out a career-high seven assists while Bunch added six and Jackie Bueno grabbed a career-best seven rebounds to lead the team.
 
The Hillcats (1-1 overall) return to the hardwood for Homecoming Saturday, Nov. 22, when Arlington Baptist makes the trek to the Claremore Expo Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and can be seen live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.