HAYS, Kan. – Rogers State women's basketball fell to Fort Hays State 83-58 Sunday afternoon at the Gross Memorial Coliseum to close out the fall schedule and 2020.
 
The Hillcats led early but couldn't contain the high-powered offense of the undefeated Tigers, who sank 10 three pointers and outrebounded the Hillcats 44-33.
 
How It Happened: Vanessa Gajdosova started the scoring for Rogers State and scored four points to go along with three pointers from Lilly Garner and Katrina Christian as RSU led 10-7 past the midway point of the first quarter. However, a 7-0 run from the Tigers put the hosts in front and they never trailed again.
 
Gajdosova, who made her first seven shot attempts in the game, helped get the Hillcats back to within one point, but a three pointer at the end of the quarter, followed by 11-straight points to start the second from Fort Hays, saw the Hillcats down by 15 less than three minutes into the second quarter.
 
The Hillcats cut the deficit to single digits midway through the second, but Fort Hays continued to hold a double-digit lead for the remainder of the half and went into the break ahead 44-29.
 
Rogers State started the third with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to nine, but that would be as close as the navy and red could get, as the Tigers followed with a 9-2 run.
 
After a late basket in the third, Fort Hays continued to pull away in the fourth as the Tigers used a 14-2 run in both quarters to go up by 24. The deficit for the Hillcats would stay in the 20s for the remainder of the game.
 
Key Statistic: Fort Hays made 10 three pointers in the game, shooting 37 percent from behind the arc. Rogers State was just 20 percent from long range with a trio of three pointers.
 
Players of Note: Gajdosova finished with a career high of 21 points, breaking her previous best of 18, which also came against Fort Hays on January 11, 2020. Gajdosova finished with the eight most shot made in a game in RSU history as she finished 10-for-13 from the field, all two pointers. She also had one free throw. Gajdosova also fell just one rebound shy of a double-double, as she finished with nine boards, another career high. The Slovakian also had five assists and three steals.
 
Bailey Kliewer was the only other Hillcat in double figures finishing with 10 points. The sophomore was 5-for-10 from the field for the game also had six rebounds and two assists.
 
Shay Stone, who received her first start as a Hillcat, finished with the sixth most blocks in a single game in RSU history as she had five rejections in 24 minutes. Stone also had a pair of rebounds and a steal with two points.
 
Garner finished with eight points in the game. The senior had a pair of three pointers and four assists. Garner also matched a career high with seven rebounds.
 
Game Notes: Rogers State finished with 15 turnovers compared to just nine from the Tigers. Fort Hays led points off turnovers 16-12.
 
The Hillcats allowed Fort Hays to pull down 13 offensive rebounds in the game, which helped lead to 16 more shot attempts for the hosts.
 
Rogers State has now lost four-straight games heading into the winter break.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will be off until the New Year as they return to action on January 4 when they welcome in No. 11 Emporia State in a make up of a postponed game from early December. Tip off with the Hornets is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Claremore Expo Center.