CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team won its second-straight to sweep the Heartland Conference homestand on Saturday afternoon, defeating St. Mary's 71-66.
 
A slow start turned into an offensive battle throughout the final 15 minutes of the opening frame. Trailing by three, Mikaila Newton buried a trey to knot the score 7-7. RSU took its first lead with a Breanna Burford layup on a dish from Jalissa Felici. The Rattlers answered with a three-pointer to take a one-point advantage. Jade Hardy put the Hillcats back in the lead by one with a three-pointer from the left elbow. The Rattlers took the largest lead of the half with a 7-0 run to take an eight-point advantage with six minutes to play. Hardy silenced the spurt with a trey and RSU ended the half with a 9-4 run to take a 32-31 lead into intermission.
 
Newton opened the scoring in the second stanza with a trey to push the Hillcat lead to four points. The lead changed nine times in the second frame with the score knotted six times. With just under 15 minutes to play the Rattlers pushed its lead to seven points, the largest advantage of the half, with a trey from Dezirae Elias. Kami Bunch stopped the run with three-pointer that ignited a 7-0 run to tie the game.
 
Trailing by three with two minutes to play, Jordan Evan hit a jumper from the lane to cut the RSU deficit to one point. Newton gave RSU the lead with two made free throws and RSU clung to the lead for the final minute. With 11 seconds to play, Newton sunk a pair at the charity stripe to push the RSU lead to three points and Elias got the final look for the Rattlers from the left corner but the three-point attempt rattled off the back iron and Evans hauled it in for the Hillcats. Evans sealed the win with two made free throws with one second on the clock.
 
The Hillcats were nearly flawless from the charity stripe, converting 26-27 attempts in the game. The 96.3 percent from line is a program best and the sixth-most made free throws in single-game history. Newton led the charge for RSU with 19 points while Bunch added 16 points. Evans hauled in 11 rebounds while adding eight points.
 
Morgan Pullins led all scorers with 20 points and 12 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season.
 

Rogers State (4-9, 2-3 HC) will take to the road next week, facing Lubbock Christian Thursday at 6 p.m. The Hillcats will continue the road stint on Saturday as they travel to Oklahoma Panhandle State with tipoff at 1 p.m. Live audio can be heard on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.