CLAREMORE, Okla. – In a tale of two halves, Rogers State women's basketball (4-2, 0-1 MIAA) couldn't hang on in the second half against Nebraska Kearney (7-0, 1-0 MIAA) in the 58-51 MIAA opener on Thursday.
 
Alayzha Knapp led the Hillcats with 12 points to go along with five rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Alyza Aikins added nine points with three assists and two steals. Kaya Goldsby finished two points shy of a double-double with eight points and 11 boards to go with five assists and a steal.
 
RSU controlled most of the first half, opening the game on a 12-6 run midway through the first quarter and eventually carried a 16-9 lead into the final 10 minutes of the half. They continued to build on their momentum by taking their largest lead of the game at 26-10 after starting the second quarter on a 10-1 run. However, the Lopers slowly began chipping away at the margin, cutting it all the way down to 26-22 with just over three and half minutes left in the half thanks to a 12-0 run of their own. RSU eventually carried a slim lead of 29-27 into the break.
 
The Hillcats started the second half on fire dashing out to a 36-27 advantage on a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of the third quarter. UNK went back to work trimming that lead and eventually jumped in front for the first time at 39-38. Things went back and forth in the remaining three minutes of the period with two more lead changes, but it was the Lopers that took a 43-42 advantage into the fourth quarter.
 
UNK cranked up the defensive pressure in the final 10 minutes, forcing RSU to shoot just 3-for-16 from the floor in the period. The Lopers managed to outscore the Hillcats 15-9 in the quarter and eventually salted the game away with made free throws down the stretch to claim the 58-51 decision.
 
RSU will need a short memory as they are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 2 when they face off against No. 22 Fort Hays State. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.