CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team used strong defense to grind out a close 61-58 win over Henderson State on Saturday (Dec. 10) at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Hillcats (4-5) secured the win using a late stop to come out with the three-point win. Trailing by three with seconds left, RSU contested a 3-pointer from HSU's Haleigh Henson that was well short of the mark. The Cats took possession with one second remaining and ran out the clock for the 61-58 victory. RSU kept HSU scoreless in the final 3:37 of the contest.
 
The defense of the navy and red held the Reddies to a season-low 58 points and only 31.9 percent (22-69) from the field. HSU came into the contest with the Great American Conference leading scoring average of 80.4 points per game. The Reddies were 20.6 percent (7-34) from 3, well below their season average of 36 percent.
 
HSU started with an early 12-7 advantage midway through the first period, but the host Cats ended the quarter with a 12-2 run to go in front, 19-14. After tying the score with a layup from Darian Jackson, Courtney Smith gave the Hillcats a 14-12 lead with a basket at the 2:09 mark. Kamry Chamberlain hit a 3-pointer in the final minute, and Lauren Schuldt scored on a layup for the 19-14 score after one stanza.
 
Already up 21-18, RSU pushed the margin to the largest lead of the game at 29-18 with layups from Jackson and Rachel Block. The Reddies made a late run, however, and the Hillcats held a 31-28 lead at halftime.
 
The navy and red took control of the third period early, pulling out to another 11-point edge, 41-30, on a layup from Natasha Kindred with 6:35 remaining.
 
HSU slowly cut into the margin and tied the score at 47-47 after two free throws with 1:59 left in the third. The Cats were up by two, 49-47, at the end of the stanza on two free throws of their own.
 
The Reddies took the lead for the first time since early in first half on a basket from Bree Bossier for a 51-49 score with 8:13 remaining in the game. The edge was three points, 58-55, after a jumper from Henson at the 3:37 mark.
 
Kindred put the Hillcats back up with 1:45 left with a layup for a 59-58 score. The basket was enough for the win as the RSU defense got stops on the final five possessions in the contest and held the Reddies scoreless in the final 3:37 of the game.
 
RSU's defense held Henson to 5-of-21 shooting from the field, including 3-of-15 shooting from 3 for 13 points.
 
Nikola Nedoroscikova registered a career-high 16 points and a game-high four assists. Natasha Kindred missed a double-double by only one point with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Hillcats go on the road for three straight contests next week. RSU starts with their final road nonconference game at Southeastern Oklahoma on Monday (Dec. 12) at 5:30 p.m. in Durant, Okla. Coverage will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.