CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State women's basketball team in the season and conference opener 81-83 to visiting Missouri Western State University on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Junior Samariah Thompson led the way in scoring for the Hillcats (0-1, 0-1 MIAA), who fell in a heartbreaking season opener at the Claremore Expo Center against the visiting Missouri Western Griffons (1-0, 1-0 MIAA), in the second meeting between the two schools.
 
How it Happened: The Hillcats begin the game fast after taking an early lead in the first half after going on a 14 point run early in the first quarter, after sophomore Alyche Brown got the scoring rolling for the Hillcats. The Hillcats would go on to outscore the Griffons 25-10 to finish the first quarter.
 
The Hillcats would hold off the Griffons for the remainder of the half and would head to halftime with a 45-33 lead, fueled by strong shooting performances by Thompson and Freshman Kloe Bowin, who both finished the half with nine points.
 
The Griffons come out firing after halftime, shooting 52.4 percent from the field in the third quarter, cutting the Hillcats lead down to two with a score of 61-59 heading into the final quarter.
 
The two teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the game, as there were four different lead changes. However, the game would end in heartbreak for the Hillcats, as a last-second attempt to send the game into overtime from Thompson rolled off the rim, and the Hillcats would by a final score of 83-81.
 
Key Statistics:  The Hillcats shot 50 percent from the three-point line and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line in the game.
 
Players of Note: Thompson finished the game with 23 points, shooting 7-for-19 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also recorded four rebounds.
 
Senior Lilly Garner finished the game with 11 points, shooting 3-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from the three-point line.
 
Junior Maya Buckhanon finished the game with 10 points, shooting 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line.
 
Bowin finished the game with 10 points, shooting 3-for-4 from the field. She also recorded five rebounds.
 
Sophomore Bailey Kliewer finished the game with seven points, shooting 2-for-3 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. She also recorded three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
 
Up Next: Rogers State will welcome in Northwest Missouri State on Saturday in the fourth meeting between the two programs in school history. The Hillcats will look to pick up their first victory against the Bearcats when the two teams tip off at 1:30 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center.