EDMOND, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team fell to Central Oklahoma 77-59 Thursday night in MIAA action at the Hamilton Field House.
 
Samariah Thompson tied for the lead in scoring in the game, finishing with 20 points, but the Hillcats (5-14, 5-14 MIAA) were unable to overcome a tough night shooting from the floor.
 
How It Happened: The Hillcats fell behind from the start as Central Oklahoma (11-6, 11-6 MIAA) opened the game with a 6-0 run in the first two minutes that extended to an 18-2 run with just over three minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
 
Shay Stone would stop the Bronchos run with a three-point play on a layup and free throw. Vanessa Gajdosova would hit a three pointer and Stone made a jumper late in the quarter as the Hillcats closed the opening 10 minutes on an 8-4 run.
 
Central Oklahoma would start the second quarter strong as well with a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 32-12 for the Bronchos. The deficit for the Hillcats would grow to 21 in the quarter before a late 4-0 run brought the gap to 37-20 headed into the half.
 
In the second half, the Bronchos would open up as much as a 28-point lead at 59-31, using an 11-2 run late in the third quarter.
 
Samariah Thompson would close out the third quarter on a 5-0 run and fueled a fourth quarter charge from the Hillcats. Thompson would then score seven points in a 9-3 run for Rogers State to begin the fourth.
 
The Hillcats would cut the deficit to 16 points at 68-52 with 3:55 left in the quarter, but the Bronchos eliminated any chance of a comeback, responding with a 7-0 run in the next 74 seconds.
 
Key Statistic: The Hillcats were held to just 29 percent (21-for-71) shooting and 13 percent (2-for-15) shooting from three-point range, while the host Bronchos were 45 percent (28-for-62) from the field on the night with six three pointers.
 
Players of Note: Thompson picked up her seventh 20+ point performance of the season as she tied for a game high 20 points on 50 percent shooting and a 7-for-7 night at the free-throw line. Thompson also had five rebounds and a steal.
 
Freshman Zoey Whiteley had a career night, finishing with highs in points and rebounds. Whiteley had seven points and seven rebounds. She also had two steals and an assist.
 
Vanessa Gajdosova was the only other Hillcat in double figures for Rogers State, finishing with 11 points. Gajdosova also led the Hillcats with four steals and three assists and also had three rebounds.
 
Shay Stone continued to lead the Hillcats in blocked shots, finishing with all three for Rogers State on the night to bring her season total to 32. Stone moved into second for blocks by a freshman at RSU, surpassing Bailey Kliewer (29). Stone is six off the freshman record of 38 held by Lauren Schuldt.
 
Notes form the Game: Rogers State finished with a season high 17 offensive rebounds, but were held to just 12 second-chance points.
 
The Hillcats had 10 turnovers in the first half, but turned the ball over just one time in the second half to match a season low 11 turnovers. Rogers State forced 21 turnovers from the Bronchos, which was also a season high, but the Hillcats had just 17 points off the Central Oklahoma turnovers.
 
Central Oklahoma finished with 21 assists in the game, while Rogers State picked up just six assists, matching a season low.
 
With the loss, the Hillcats fall to within one loss of being eliminated from MIAA Tournament contention.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats will remain on the road on Saturday, making a trip to Wichita, Kansas to take on former Heartland Conference rival Newman in an MIAA showdown. Rogers State will tip off with the Jets at 1:30 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.