CLAREMORE, Okla. – After a two-week break for the holidays, Rogers State women's basketball returned to action with a 66-53 win over the Falcons of Texas-Permian Basin in a New Year's Eve matchup at the Claremore Expo Center Thursday.
 
The Hillcats earned their second-consecutive, Heartland Conference victory after a thrilling last-minute 66-64 decision over UA Fort Smith in the conference opener. With the win, RSU has now won six out of its last seven games overall.
 
A pair of triples from Danielle Carr and Carlye Bohannan built a 9-0 run near the end of the first quarter to take a 17-11 lead. The Falcons scored the final five points of the opening quarter to trim the lead to one, 17-16.
 
RSU capitalized on the Falcons' miscues by converting 11 first-half turnovers into 15 points to give them a 37-32 lead at intermission. After a 32-32 tie with less than two minutes left in the half, the Hillcats used an 11-0 run scoring the final five points of the second quarter and the first six points of the third quarter. The lead stretched to a 43-32, but UTPB responded with a 7-0 run of its own to cut the lead to 43-39.
 
The strong defense continued in the second half, as the Hillcats held the Falcons to 31 percent shooting from the field and just 21 second half points.
 
The offense used the defensive momentum to take control of the contest holding a 53-43 edge through three quarters of action and pushed the margin as high as 16 points in the fourth quarter, 59-43. The Hillcats cruised to the final score of 66-53 to remain unbeaten at home this season.
 
Leading RSU on the defensive side of the ball was Natasha Kindred with five blocks and Courtney Smith with four steals. For the game, the Hillcats forced UTPB into 21 turnovers leading directly to 24 points off turnovers.
 
Kami Bunch and Rachel Block led RSU in scoring with 17 and 14 points, respectively. The Heartland Conference leader in assists per game, Bunch added four assists in the win.
 
The Hillcats (7-2 overall, 2-0 HC) open the new year with another home contest Jan. 2 against the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's. The Heartland Conference matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center and can be caught live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.