CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team fell, 60-33, to defending national champion Lubbock Christian on Thursday in the final home conference game for the Cats at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The Lady Chaps used a big third period to pull away, outscoring the Hillcats, 27-8, to go in front, 45-21, after three periods. With LCU holding a 25-20 advantage in the third, the visiting Lady Chaps ended the period with a 20-1 run to build the 24-point edge.
 
LCU led by as many as 31 in the final stanza en route to the 60-33 final score.
 
In the first half, both teams started slowly, scoring a combined 31 first-half points. The Lady Chaps were up 7-4 after one period as the visitors shot 15.4 percent (2-23) from the field to start the game.    
 
The Hillcats knotted the score up early in the second period on a Darian Jackson three-point play for a 7-7 score with 8:28 left before halftime. The Chaps responded with an 11-2 spurt to take an 18-9 lead midway through the period.
 
RSU's defense held LCU scoreless for the final 4:40 of the half, and junior Nikola Nedoroscikova totaled four-straight points to pull the Cats to within five, 18-13, at the half.
 
LCU's Tess Bruffey posted a game-high 21 points and seven blocks. She added a team-high seven rebounds to pace the Lady Chaps.
 
Lauren Schuldt was the lone Hillcat in double figures with 15 points. The sophomore forwarded was one rebound away from a double-double as she tallied a game-high nine rebounds.
 
The Hillcats welcome Central Christian to the Claremore Expo Center on Saturday (Feb. 11) for Senior Day. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. with coverage available on the 91.3 FM, RSU TV and the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.