CLAREMORE, Okla. – Northeastern State hit 15 3-pointers, including 10 in the first half, to pick up a 73-64 win over the Rogers State women's basketball team on Wednesday (Nov. 16) in the home opener for the Hillcats.
 
The visiting RiverHawks knocked down five triples in the first five minutes to build a 16-6 advantage at the 5:49 mark of the first period. RSU ended the first stanza with a 6-0 run to trail by only four at 16-12 after 10 minutes.
 
RSU cut the deficit to two on a Rachel Block fast break layup for a score of 16-14 with 8:32 left in the second period. The two teams traded 3s for a 22-20 score on a triple from Courtney Smith with 7:12 remaining. The Hillcats regained the lead, 24-22, on Kolby McIntosh's 3 midway through the period.
 
After the RSU advantage, the RiverHawks scored four straight 3-point baskets to go in front, 36-29, with 2:18 left before halftime. A late free throw from NSU made it 37-29 after the first half.
 
The RiverHawks pushed the margin out to 10 points at 47-37 with 4:30 remaining in the third, but Courtney Smith pulled the Cats back within striking distance with back-to-back 3s for a 47-43 score. A layup from Natasha Kindred put the deficit at three, 50-47, the closest the Hillcats got in the second half.
 
In the fourth period, NSU pulled away for the 73-64 score.
 
NSU posted 15 triples, going 15-of-30 from long range for 50 percent. The RiverHawks went 10-of-17 in the first half for 58.8 percent. Rylie Torrey hit six 3-pointers for a game-high 27 points. Cailyn Long registered four 3s for 18 points, and Kylie Looney totaled three triples for all nine of her points.  
 
Block scored a team-high 15 points as she was a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from the field. Kindred added 10 points in only 18 minutes. Nikola Nedoroscikova posted a game-high six assists.
 
The navy and red finished at 41 percent (25-41) from the field and 30 percent (6-20) from 3. The Hillcats shot only nine free throws, going 8-of-9 for 88.9 percent.
 
The Hillcats (1-2) host Bacone College on Saturday in the annual homecoming contest at the Claremore Expo Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. with coverage available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.