TULSA, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team held a second-half advantage with NCAA Division I Oral Roberts, but the Golden Eagles pulled away late for a 77-60 in exhibition play at the Mabee Center on Saturday (Nov. 5) afternoon.
 
After a fast start from host ORU, the Hillcats closed the gap in the second period. Freshman Darian Jackson pulled RSU to within one, 21-20, after a made free throw with 6 minutes left in the second period.
 
The Hillcats gained their first lead of the game, 22-21, with a Natasha Kindred layup at the 5:27 mark. After junior newcomer Nikola Nedoroscikova evened the score at 25-25 with a three-point play, Madison Dearmin knocked down a three from the corner for a 28-25 RSU advantage with only 4 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The Golden Eagles went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 31-28. ORU's Kaylan Mayberry scored all six points in the run. The score was tied, 33-33, at halftime.
 
In the first 20 minutes, the navy and red shot 46.7 percent (14-30) from the field. RSU's defense held ORU to 31.4 percent (11-35).
 
Two straight three-pointers from senior Courtney Smith put the Hillcats up 41-37 for their largest lead of the game with 8:43 left in the third period.
 
ORU used an 11-2 run to build a 54-45 advantage. Heather Roberts ended the spurt with a three for a 54-48 score.
 
The navy and red used a run of 5-0 for a 54-50 score after a jumper from Lauren Schuldt. ORU's Mayberry scored four straight points to end the period, including a corner three-pointer with only seconds left in the period for a 60-52 score after three periods.
 
The final period saw the host Golden Eagles push the margin to double digits for the first time as ORU went on to win 77-60.
 
Kindred scored a team-high 12 points, and Schuldt added 10 points.
 
The Hillcats shot 41 percent (25-61) from the field for the game. ORU ended at 44.3 percent (27-61) from the field.
 
Mayberry of ORU scored a game-high points 25, going 10-of-22 from the field. ORU ended at 44.3 percent (27-61) from the field.
 
The Hillcats start the regular season at the Heartland/Lone Star/RMAC Challenge in Las Vegas, N.M next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 11-12). RSU opens the season with host New Mexico Highlands on Friday at 1 p.m. The navy and red concludes the opening weekend with Western New Mexico at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The 2016-17 home opener is Nov. 16 against in-state rival Northeastern State at 5:30 p.m. Coverage all season long is available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.