GOODWELL, Okla. – The Rogers State women used a solid second half to claim a 59-57 road win over Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon inside Oscar Williams Field House. RSU outscored the Aggies 33-25 in the second half after trailing by six at the half.
 
A Heather Roberts layup to tie the game at 34-34 midway through the third quarter was followed by a Rachel Block steal and layup to put the HIllcats ahead with 4:38 to go in the third at 36-34. OPSU answered with a 6-1 run to build a five point advantage over the next two minutes. Block knocked in 3-of-4 free throws to start a 7-1 stretch for RSU to close the quarter and hold a 44-43 advantage after outscoring the Aggies 18-11 in the period.
 
The Aggies would build a four point lead on a Taylor Acosta and-one with 8:16 remaining at 50-46. RSU responded with a 13-0 run going 3-of-4 from 3-point to lead 59-50 with 2:48 to go. OPSU would score seven unanswered points to close out the game but the Hillcats hung on for the 59-57 victory.
 
After a sluggish first quarter in which the Hillcats shot just 30.8 percent from the field the Hillcats shot 41 percent over the next three quarters started by a second quarter that saw the Hillcats make 3-of-6 from behind the arc.
 
OPSU took a seven point lead on a Shaletha Mayberry 3-pointer to open the second quarter. RSU's Nikola Nedoroscikova responded immediately with a three of her own and Lindsey Byfield connected from behind the arc to pull RSU within one at 18-17 with 9:03 remaining.
 
Momentum appeared to be going in RSU's favor but a missed layup and an offensive foul led to back-to-back Addison Munsch layups putting OPSU up 22-17 with 6:32 before the half. Taylor Acosta added a layup of her own and the Aggies led by seven points for the second time in the opening half.
 
A Hannah Whitaker jumper built the OPSU lead to nine points with 2:49 to go before half but a Nedoroscikova 3-pointer, her third of the half, pulled the HIllcats back within six. RSU would enter the halftime locker room trailing 32-26.
 
In the first quarter the Aggies shot 46.2 percent from the field as the Hillcats started slow once again making just four field goals to trail 15-11.
 
Oklahoma Panhandle State (1-19, 0-12) was led by three players in double-figure scoring. Acosta finished with 13 points while Whitaker and Munsch tallied 10 points each. The Aggies shot 42 percent from the field but just 1-of-8 from 3-point.
 
Block led the way for Rogers State (7-15, 3-9) with 14 points adding two assists, one block and three steals before leaving with an injury in the fourth quarter. Nedoroscikova finished with 13 points as the junior point guard shot 3-of-6 from behind the arc. The Hillcats shot 7-of-18 from 3-point and 70.6 percent from free throw in the victory to sweep the season series with OPSU.
 
Rogers State returns home Thursday hosting Lubbock Christian at 5:30 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo. RSU TV2 and RSU Radio 91.3FM will provide live play-by-play coverage as the Hillcats face the Lady Chaps. Live audio and video streaming will be provided on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.