CLAREMORE. Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team picked up an MIAA conference win Monday night, defeating Newman 62-37 at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Three Hillcats (4-8, 4-8 MIAA) finished in double figures, as Rogers State snapped a four-game losing streak against the Jets (3-9, 3-9 MIAA). The Hillcats set a season best in points allowed in a quarter, giving up just five in the first quarter. Newman's 11 points in the first is a season-low for points allowed by the Hillcats in a half by 10 points.
 
The Hillcats also set an NCAA era school record by holding Newman to 21 percent (13-62) shooting from the floor. The last time the Hillcats held an opponent under 30 percent shooting in the NCAA era came in December of 2016 when the Hillcats held Texas A&M International to 26 percent. The only better defensive performance and the overall school record for lowest shooting percentage against is 13.8 percent by Mid-America Christian in January of 2008.
 
The 37 points that the Hillcats allowed is the fewest since giving up 28 points to Ecclesia in November of 2018. It is also the fewest points scored by a conference opponent in NCAA Division II era. The previous low from a conference opponent was 41 by Texas A&M International in January 2017.
 
How It Happened: The Hillcats came out firing on all cylinders to start the first quarter, as junior Samariah Thompson sparked an 11-0 run to begin the game with a jumper.
 
Rogers State was able to hold the Jets to five points in the first quarter and went into the second quarter with a 14-5 advantage.
 
The Hillcats maintained the momentum to start the second quarter, as Rogers State opened up the second with a 17-0 run sparked by a three-point jumper from junior Julie Luna.
 
RSU took a game-high 26-point lead in the second quarter after Thompson hit a deep three-pointer from Luna at the 3:28 mark.
 
Rogers State would continue to dominate the Jets on the defensive side of the ball, as they held them to only six points in the second quarter, heading to the locker room with a 36-11 advantage.
 
The Hillcats and the Jets traded baskets for most of the second half, as the Hillcats would hold onto a 20+ point advantage for the remainder of the game.
 
Nine different Hillcats would score in the game, as the Hillcats cruised to their third victory in four games.
 
Key Statistics: The Hillcats held Newman to just 15.6 (5-for-32) percent shooting in the first half, while Rogers State was 44.8 (13-for-29) percent from the field in the opening half, including seven three pointers.
 
Rogers State outrebounded Newman on the glass 54-38.
 
Players of Note: Thompson led the Hillcats in scoring with a game high 13 points. She also recorded two rebounds and steals, along with an assist.
 
Vanessa Gajdosova finished with 11 points. She also tied career highs in rebounds with nine and assists with six. The junior also had a pair of steals.
 
Luna finished the game with 11 points. She also recorded three rebounds and two assists.
 
Freshman Shay Stone finished the game with nine points. She also recorded six rebounds, a pair of blocks, a steal, and an assist.
 
Freshman Taryn Kelley scored her first collegiate points in the game, draining a deep three-point jumper in her first career shot attempt for the navy and red.
 
Notables: For the third time in four games, the Hillcats never trailed their opponent.
 
The Hillcats picked up the largest victory in the series between Rogers State and Newman. The 25-point win surpasses a 21-point victory for Newman in January of 2018.
 
The 25-point win is also the largest victory of the season for Rogers State and the biggest margin of victory for the Hillcats since November of 2019 when they beat Randall by 66-points.
 
The Hillcats recorded a season high 54 rebounds.
 
The 29 bench points and seven blocks for the Hillcats were both one shy of matching season highs.

The Hillcats 17-0 run in the second quarter, is the largest run for Rogers State this season. The previous high was 14 points, set twice this season.
 
Up Next: Rogers State remains at home and welcomes Missouri Southern into the Claremore Expo Center on Thursday, looking to avenge 96-85 loss on the road to the Lions earlier this season. The Hillcats and Lions are set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.