OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. –
Lauren Schuldt set a school record with the go-ahead basket and then blocked two shots all in the final 20 seconds to preserve a 92-91 victory for Rogers State Saturday afternoon over Oklahoma Christian in the regular-season finale.
Schuldt smashed her previous career high of 26 points by scoring a school record 38 points in the game, breaking the previous record of 36 by DaNara Day at Oklahoma Wesleyan in December of 2013.
The senior forward was 12-for-23 from the field and 14-for-16 from the free-throw line. Schuldt's 14 made free throws and 16 free-throw attempts also matched school records previously held solo by Mikaila Newton, set at St. Mary's in February of 2015.
Sculdt's 15 rebounds and five blocks both fell one shy of her career highs, while her three steals matched a previous career best, also set at Oklahoma Christian last season.
In the first half, Schuldt had 13 points, but it was mostly a three-point party for the Hillcats who had nine first-half threes, led by
Desiree Nelson, who was 4-for-6 from behind the arc and 5-for-7 from the field. Nelson led all scorers at the half with 14 points.
Lindsey Byfield and
Lilly Garner each sank a pair of threes in the first 20 minutes, while
Alicia Brown had one.
Rogers State led by 17 points late in the first half and took a 16-point advantage into the break with a season high 54 first-half points.
However, the lead would be short-lived as Oklahoma Christian made a second-half rally similar to the one they pulled off at the Expo Center last month.
The Eagles outscored the Hillcats 35-17 in the third quarter and took a two-point lead into the final 10 minutes on their home floor.
Rogers State would fall farther behind as Oklahoma Christian went ahead by as many as eight points with three minutes to go, but 14 points from Schuldt in the fourth quarter brought the Hillcats back.
After cutting the deficit to just one over the next two minutes, the Hillcats then took the lead as Byfield was left open in the corner and the senior hit a three pointer to put RSU ahead 90-88.
Following a jumper from the nation's leading scorer in Addy Clift, Schuldt answered back with a layup that broke the school record and put Rogers State back in front by two.
Oklahoma Christian would get one point back at the free-throw line and had 13 seconds with the ball and a chance to win after the Hillcats missed both free throws following an intentional foul.
With about six seconds to go, Schuldt swatted away a shot attempt from Megan Shelton that went out of bounds. Then on the in-bounds play, Schuldt blocked Clift's jumper at the buzzer to secure the victory.
Nelson and Byfield each finished with 14 points for the Hillcats. Garner led the Hillcats with 12 points off the bench.
Brown finished with five rebounds, five assists and two steals to go along with eight points in the game.
As a team, the Hillcats pulled down a season high 21 offensive rebounds and also had 20 assists. Rogers State outrebounded Oklahoma Christian 44-34 overall.
With the win, the Hillcats move up to the No. 4 seed in next week's Heartland Conference Basketball Tournament. Rogers State will open up with No. 5 seeded St. Edward's on Friday, March 8. Tipoff is set for noon at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
