LUBBOCK, Texas – Rogers State women's basketball could never secure the lead Saturday inside the Rip Griffin Center and battled from behind in a 65-49 loss to Lubbock Christian.
 
RSU saw defending NCAA Division II champion LCU build an 8-2 advantage with 4:18 remaining in the first quarter before Lauren Schuldt pushed the Hillcats back tied with the Lady Chaps at 8-8 as the sophomore forward tallied four points fueling a 6-0 run for the Cats.
 
LCU would close the first quarter and open the second period with seven unanswered points to lead 15-8 just 40 seconds into the second quarter. The Hillcats however would only be outscored in the second quarter 13-11, as Schuldt tallied 11 first half points, and RSU trailed 28-19 at the intermission. Coach Bobby Cope's squad shot just 23 percent from the field while the Lady Chaps shot 4-of-10 from 3-point in the first half.
 
In the third quarter, LCU opened on a 14-6 run over the first 5:23 of play but RSU responded closing out the quarter with a 12-3 stretch. Freshman Darian Jackson and Schuldt combined for nine of the 12 points to finish the quarter as the Hillcats cut the Lady Chaps lead to 47-37.
 
The Lady Chaps were able to hold off the Hillcats as LCU outscored RSU 18-12 in the final quarter and give RSU its second consecutive loss.
 
Lubbock Christian (8-7, 3-1) saw three players score in double-figures led by Bailey Haist and Tess Bruffey with 18 points each. The Lady Chaps tallied 12 assists on 21 field goals while forcing RSU into 16 turnovers resulting in 17 points off turnovers for LCU.
 
Schuldt finished with a game high 23 points setting a new career high and team season high for the Fayetteville, Ark. native. Seven Hillcats scored but only Schuldt surpassed the double-figure mark. Jackson totaled eight points and six rebounds off the bench.  RSU was held to 31 percent shooting from the field.
 
Rogers State (5-10, 1-4) returns to action on Thursday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Claremore Expo. Live play-by-play coverage will be carried on RSU Radio 91.3 FM and on RSU  TV2, Channel 35.2/Cox Cable Channel 86. The game will also be simulcast on the Hillcat Network with live audio and video streaming at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.