CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State women's basketball used a hot-shooting third quarter to overcome a seven-point halftime lead by visiting St. Mary's on Thursday evening at the Claremore Expo Center.  The Hillcats won their eighth home game of the season by a final score of 72-66.

A lead that had ballooned to as much as 10 for the visiting Rattlers (16-8, 6-6) was erased by a 22-14 third quarter in which the Hillcats (12-12, 5-6) shot 53.3 percent as a team and made five three pointers.

Senior guard Desiree Nelson led the team with 19 points, a season high for the second-year starter from Caney, Oklahoma. Nelson also had five three-pointers to go along with three assists in the game.

Although the Hillcats took the lead heading into the fourth quarter, their lead never reached more than six as both teams battled throughout the last stanza. Rogers State held off the Rattlers in the quarter by out shooting their opponent 50 percent to 31.6 percent.

A large part of the successful shooting in the fourth quarter was senior guard Carlye Bohannan. The Springdale, Arkansas native's free throws in the last minutes were the final points of the game, and her 16 points on the night were a career high. The 5'3" guard also tied career highs with six rebounds and seven assists.

Leading the team in rebounds was senior forward Lauren Schuldt with 11. The Fayetteville, Arkansas native finished one basket shy of a double-double with eight points, while also leading the team in blocks with three. As a team, the Hillcats had four blocks, while the Rattlers had none.

The Hillcats dominated in bench points with 19 to the Rattlers eight. Junior forward Darian Jackson led the bench scoring with nine points. Senior guard Ke'Aunna Johnson contributed five rebounds from the bench in route to Rogers State outrebounding St. Mary's 37-33.

Rogers State will be back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center as they host the Texas A&M International Dust Devils (0-23, 0-11). The game will be the last home game of the season for the Hillcats, as well as senior day for Bohannan, Nelson, Schuldt, forward Lindsey Byfield and guard Denisha Ford.