CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team dropped their final home contest of the year 66-58 to Central Oklahoma on Sunday at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Sophomore Julie Lune led the Hillcats in scoring with 15 points and Freshman Shay Stone tied the Rogers State freshman block record for a single season, but the Hillcats (5-16, 5-16 MIAA) could not hold onto a fourth quarter lead as the Bronchos (13-6, 13-6 MIAA) rallied late.
 
How It Happened: The two teams began the contest by trading leads twice and tying each other seven times in the first quarter of action. Senior Lilly Garner hit a couple early three pointers and then a three-point jumper late in the quarter from sophomore Bailey Kliewer gave the Hillcats an 18-15 advantage at the end of the first.
 
The Hillcats were a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the opening 10 minutes.
 
In the second quarter, the Hillcats and the Bronchos continued the tightly contested battle. The Bronchos would have the largest lead of the half (five) after going on an 8-2 run that started at the early in the quarter. The Bronchos would lead the Hillcats going into the half with a 27-25 advantage over the Hillcats.
 
Garner led the Hillcats in scoring in the first half with six points, while Stone and Luna each had five points.
 
The Hillcats went on their best scoring run of the game early in the third after Stone sparked the Hillcats run with a layup as the Hillcats scored eight-straight points. The two teams went on to trade baskets for the remainder of the quarter and headed into the final quarter all tied up at 42.
 
The Hillcats would lead the Broncos by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter, but seven turnovers in the gave the Bronchos an avenue back in and the visitors would close out the game on a 23-6 run over the final 7:50.
 
Key Statistics: Central Oklahoma shot 25-for-56 (45 percent) from the field in the game, while Rogers State only shot 20-for-56 (36 percent). A key contributor was inside, where the Hillcats had 20 points in the paint compared to 34 by the Bronchos.
 
Players of Note: Luna finished the game with 15 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the field. She also had a steal and a rebound.
 
Stone finished with nine points. She also had eight rebounds, six blocks, and an assist. Her six blocks are tied for second most in a game in school history. She also moved into a tie for the freshman record for blocks in a season, matching Lauren Schuldt with 38.
 
Kliewer finished with nine points. She also had nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
 
Thompson finished with nine points and had a team high seven assists along with five rebounds.
 
Gajdosova finished with eight points. She also recorded five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
 
Garner also finished with eight points and had a pair of rebounds.
 
Notes from the Game: The Bronchos won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Rogers State 40-to-32.
 
After a season high 21 turnovers forced on Thursday at Central Oklahoma, The Hillcats forced the Bronchos to 20 more turnovers on the afternoon. It is the fourth time the Hillcats have forced 20+ turnovers this season.
 
The Hillcats spent 15:58 with the lead and trailed for 15:20. It is just the second time this season the Hillcats led in time with lead and lost the game.
 
Rogers State's eight blocks as a team are tied for the sixth most in school history and it is the sixth time this season RSU has had at least seven blocks in a game.
 
Up Next: Rogers State will wrap up the season on the road on Saturday as the Hillcats make the short trip to Tahlequah to take on in-state rival Northeastern State. The Hillcats and RiverHawks are set to tip off at 1:30 p.m.