WICHITA, Kan. – Rogers State women's basketball fell, 78-57, at Newman on Thursday (Jan. 4) in Heartland Conference action at Fugate Gymnasium in the Hillcats' first game since Dec. 16.
 
The Jets (11-5, 3-0 Heartland) opened the game with a 10-2 run in the first four minutes to build an eight-point edge and held control for the rest of the game as they never trailed.
 
RSU (4-9, 0-2) did respond early with a 9-3 run to pull to within two points at 13-11 on a Kolby McIntosh basket at the 3:51 mark, however, Newman ended the first period with a spurt to gain a 23-15 lead after 10 minutes.
 
In the second period, the Jets pushed the margin out to as much as 17 points and held a 40-27 advantage at the halftime break.
 
Newman extended the second half lead to as many as 28 points in the 78-57 game.
 
Darian Jackson posted a career-high 20 points for the Cats in the loss. The sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla. shot 8-fo-15 from the field and added four rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes. She was the only Hillcat in double figures in the game. Jordan Evans came off the bench to total eight points and a team-high six rebounds.
 
Junior Lauren Schuldt, who was limited to only 20 minutes due to foul trouble, totaled only one point as she entered today's game averaging a team-high 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
 
Three Jets finished in double figures. Reserve Bria DeGrate went for a team-high 15 points, and Nia Roberts and Abbey George each registered 14 points. Newman tallied 42 bench points.
 
The road foes continued for RSU as the Hillcats lost their 10-straight road contest dating back to the 2016-17 season. RSU is 0-7 on the road so far this season.
 
The Hillcats return home for their first home game in more than a month on Jan. 10 against nationally ranked Lubbock Christian at the Claremore Expo Center. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. with coverage available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.