TULSA, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team's season ended with a 58-44 loss to St. Mary's on Friday (March 2) in the quarterfinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hillcats couldn't overcome a cold shooting performance as the navy and red shot 30.2 percent (13-43) from the field, including only 14.3 percent (3-21) in the first half.
 
The Hillcats (10-17) trailed by two at 9-7 after Desiree Nelson hit a 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining in the opening period. However, both teams went ice cold for the rest of the period as the two teams were scoreless for the final four minutes.
 
RSU tied the score at 9-9 early in the second period, but the Rattlers ended the final three minutes of the period with a 9-0 run to open up a 24-12 halftime advantage.
 
After Lindsey Byfield sank a 3-pointer to pull the Cats to within three at 15-12, StMU scored nine straight points to build the halftime edge.
 
In the opening half, the Cats shot only 14.3 percent (3-21) from the field. The Rattlers posted a 40 percent (10-25) first-half shooting performance.
 
The Hillcats hung around late and trailed by only six points at 43-37 after a free throw by Lauren Schuldt with 2:48 left. After a layup by StMU's Arysia Porter, Nikola Nedoroscikova cut the deficit to six again with two free throws, but the Rattlers ended any hope for the Cats with a jumper by Alexia Torres and a 3-pointer from Soteria Banks for a 50-39 score with 1:21 remaining. StMU made late free throws for the 58-44 final.
 
Byfield led the navy and red in scoring with 10 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Schuldt added nine points, two blocks and two steals.
 
Nedoroscikova registered nine points and a game-high six assists in her final game in the navy and red. She assisted on more than have of the 11 baskets for her RSU teammates. For her career, the Kosice, Slovakia product totaled 218 assists to rank third all-time in the RSU career record book.
 
In only 16 minutes off the bench, senior Jordan Evans pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, one off her season high.
 
Kealani Marquez of StMU went for a game-high 19 points. Soteria Banks totaled 16 points, and Porter finished with 13 points. The Rattlers shot 42 percent (21-50) from the floor in the game.
 
RSU shot only 30.2 percent (13-43) from the field in the game, but went 10-of-22 shooting in the second half for 45.5 percent.
 
It was the final game for three RSU seniors -- Nedoroscikova, Evans and Kamry Chamberlain.
 
The Hillcats finish the 2017-18 season with a 10-17 record and went 5-9 in the Heartland Conference for fifth place in the standings.