CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State women's basketball team suffered a 66-58 loss to Lubbock Christian on Saturday afternoon at the Claremore Expo.
 
The Hillcats couldn't hold on to an eight-point halftime lead falling to the Heartland Conference's top-ranked Lady Chaps (19-5, 13-1 HC).
 
RSU started the contest with consecutive buckets to take a four-point advantage. The Lady Chaps answered with eight-straight points to gain a one-point lead. Mikaila Newton answered with a trey to put RSU back on top. The Hillcats used a 9-2 run, scoring eight-straight points with two three pointers from Jalissa Felici, to push the RSU lead to nine points with 12 minutes to play in the first frame. The Hillcats held the lead for the remainder of the half and Jade Hardy hit a triple to end the stanza, giving RSU a 38-30 advantage at intermission.
 
The Hillcats started the half with a jumper by Newton but the Lady Chaps answered with a 10-0 run to tie the game, 40-40. The lead seesawed over the next eight minutes before LCU used an 8-0 run to take control with seven minutes to play. RSU cut the deficit to a two possession game but could not complete the comeback bid.
 
The Hillcats went 7-12 from behind the arc in the first stanza finishing the game shooting 45 percent from long distance. Newton and Amari Jones led the RSU attack, scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively.
 
Tess Bruffey led the Lady Chaps with 19 points while Kellyn Schneider tallied a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds adding eight blocks.
 
Rogers State (8-15, 6-9 HC) returns to action on the road Thursday as the Hillcats travel to Oklahoma Christian at 5:30 p.m. Live audio of the contest will be streamed on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.