WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Rogers State women's basketball (1-1) fought hard but came up short against Northern State (1-1) in a 82-74 game in the finale of the MIAA/NSIC on Saturday.
Five Hillcats finished in double digits on the night. Bailey Kliewer led the squad with 16 points, four rebounds and an assist. Both Julie Luna and Kylee Day posted 15 points, with Luna adding an assist and a steal and Day adding five rebounds and a steal. Katrina Christian and Jordan Lewis contributed 10 points apiece, with Christian adding four rebounds, an assist and a steal and Lewis adding a rebound and an assist. Vanessa Gajdosova pulled down a team-high six rebounds in addition to four points, four assists and a steal.
The Wolves started the game on a hot streak as they opened on a 7-0 run. RSU responded by draining five-straight three-pointers as part of a 12-4 run to take a 15-11 lead with 3:28 left in the period. Both teams traded points from there with NSU retaking the lead 23-21 headed into the second quarter.
In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Wolves took the momentum they gained from the end of the previous quarter and continued to ride it to a 32-25 lead with 5:58 left in the half. They eventually pushed out their largest lead of the half at 37-29, and eventually took a 39-32 advantage into the break.
NSU continue to roll to start the second half as they opened on a 7-3 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game at 46-35. The Hillcats rallied and managed to trim the deficit to 52-46 with 4:50 left in the period. However, the Wolves answered and took a 60-52 lead into the final 10 minutes.
Once again, NSU started hot as they ripped off a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter with a 67-52 lead. RSU fought and battled back to trim the deficit to 73-66 with 2:31 left, but they were unable to get any closer. The Wolves would eventually take the 82-74 win.
The Hillcats will be back in action on Thursday, Nov. 18 as they return to the Claremore Expo Center for the home opener against Bacone. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
