JOPLIN, Mo. – The Rogers State women's basketball team fell on the road Saturday afternoon in a 96-85 loss to Missouri Southern in MIAA play at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Four Hillcats finished in double figures, led by a career high from
Julie Luna and a double-double from
Samariah Thompson, but Rogers State could not overcome a second half deficit in the loss.
How It Happened: The Hillcats and Lions traded the lead several times early as the teams were knotted up at 12 after the first quarter.
Rogers State overcame a 6-0 run to begin the second quarter by Missouri Southern, but the Hillcats didn't have an answer for a 14-2 run by the Lions midway through the quarter, as the hosts never trailed again, taking a 39-34 lead into the break.
The Hillcats cut the deficit to three early in the third quarter, but it would be as close as RSU would get as Missouri Southern opened up a 13-point lead heading to the final quarter.
Missouri Southern would expand their lead to as much as 20 in the fourth quarter before Rogers State made a late charge. A three pointer from
Lilly Garner cut the Hillcats deficit to seven with 1:47 left but the Lions held off the late charge to secure the victory.
Key Statistic: Missouri Southern shot 54.4 percent from the floor for the game, while the Hillcats shot just 45.5 percent for the contest. Missouri Southern shot 75 percent in the second quarter to pull away from Rogers State.
Players of Note: Luna scored a career high 16 points off the bench for Rogers State on 6-for-10 shooting including a trio of three pointers and a free throw. Her previous career high was 14 in November of 2019 against Randall.
Thompson picked up her first career double-double as she set a career high in assists with 12 for the game. Thompson also had 15 points in the game, as she has scored in double figures in all four games this season.
Maya Buckhanon also had 15 points as she continued her run of games in double figures to begin the season. Buckhanon had five field goals and was also a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line.
Garner finished in double figures for the second time this season as she finished with season highs of 14 points and four three pointers.
Notes: Thompson's 12 assists are the most for the Hillcats since Nikola Nedoroscikova had 13 for the navy and red in January of 2018.
Thompson's points and assists double-double is the first for the Hillcats since Autumn Thompson had 12 and 12 against Ecclesia in November of 2008.
Rogers State set season highs in points (85), three pointers (9), and assists (17).
The Hillcats fall to 0-4 all-time against Missouri Southern.
Up Next: The Hillcats return to the Claremore Expo Center for the final scheduled home game of the semester, as Rogers State welcomes in Washburn on Saturday. Tip off with the Ichabods is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday's Emporia State game is postponed due to COVID-19 protocols for Emporia State.
