CLAREMORE, Okla. -  The Rogers State women's basketball team fell,  71-57, to Heartland Conference foe St. Edward's Thursday night at the Claremore Expo.
 
After a slow start allowing SEU to push its lead to double-digits with a 7-0 run, the RSU defense held the Hilltoppers to just four points over the final 10 minutes of the opening half. The Hillcats used a 7-0 run to close the stanza, capped with a steal by Stacia Payne and a layup by Kami Bunch to cut the deficit to one point. SEU led 25-24 at intermission.
 
The Hilltoppers opened the second frame with a 19-7 advantage to take a 13-point lead with 12 minutes to play. SEU stretched the advantage to 17 points with three minutes remaining in the contest. The Hillcats reeled off a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 10 points with one minute remaining in the game. Bunch hit a three pointer to cut the SEU lead to eight with 41 seconds to play but the Hillcats ran out of time and the Hilltoppers sealed the game at the free throw line, going 6-for-6 in the closing stretch.
 
Bunch led the Hillcats in scoring with 20 points. It was the senior's first-career 20-point game for the Hillcats. Mikaila Newton followed with 19 points to round out the Hillcats in double-digit scoring.
 
Sydney Thomas led four Hilltoppers in double digits with 17 points. SEU won the battle on the boards 44-31.
 
Rogers State (5-13, 3-6 HC) returns to the hardwood Saturday as the Cats close out a four-game homestand against Texas-Permian Basin at 1 p.m. The Hillcats will "White Out" the Claremore Expo Saturday with the first 750 fans in attendances receiving a free RSU t-shirt.