CLAREMORE, Okla. – Crossover season officially begins this week as basketball, softball and track and field are all in action in this edition of the Hillcat Preview, presented by TTCU.

All RSU students, faculty and staff are eligible for free admission to all home sporting events. Faculty and staff can also bring one complementary guest. For questions, contact cking@rsu.edu. 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Rogers State women's basketball (7-12, 4-6 MIAA) wrapped up last week's road trip with a split, falling to No. 5 Fort Hays State, 73-46, on Thursday, before securing its first-ever victory against Nebraska-Kearney, 83-75, on Saturday.
 
This week, the Hillcats will host Emporia State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for Cherokee Night and Newman on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the 2026 Hall of Fame Game.
 
Thursday's game will mark the 11th all-time meeting between RSU and ESU, with Emporia State holding a 10-1 advantage. The Hillcats' lone victory over the Hornets came in 2022, when they defeated ESU, 77-59, at the Claremore Expo Center. Last season, ESU won a close matchup, 79-77, in Claremore.
 
Rogers State is set to rematch Newman on Saturday at home. The Hillcats overcame an early deficit on New Year's Day in Wichita to claim a 63-53 win over the Jets. This will be the 26th all-time meeting between the programs, with Newman holding a 14-11 lead in the series.
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Hillcat men's basketball (12-7, 6-4 MIAA) went 1-1 last week, suffering a heartbreaking 80-75 overtime loss to the Lions on Thursday before bouncing back with an 86-77 victory over the Lopers on Saturday.
 
The Hillcats will return to the Claremore Expo Center for Cherokee Night on Thursday against Emporia State at 7:30 p.m. They will wrap up the week against Newman on Saturday at 4 p.m. for the 2026 Hall of Fame Game.
 
Thursday's game will mark the 14th all-time meeting between Rogers State and Emporia State, with the Hillcats holding a 9-4 advantage in the series. RSU swept ESU last season, including an 83-76 win at home. The Hillcats are a perfect 6-0 against the Hornets in Claremore.
 
Rogers State will rematch Newman on Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center. The Hillcats secured an 84-72 victory over the Jets in Wichita on Jan. 1. Rogers State holds a 20-6 all-time record against Newman, including 10-2 at home.
 
SOFTBALL PREVIEW
The 2026 season kicks off from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Golf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Every game will be played at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

Rogers State will start the invite against Montevallo (Ala.) at 11 a.m. and Valdosta State (Ga.) at 1:15 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, RSU faces Delta State (Miss.) at 10 a.m. and Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) at 12:15 p.m. The weekend wraps up with matches against Union (Tenn.) at 10 a.m. and Spring Hill (Ala.) at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.
 
In last season's trip to Gulf Shores, the Hillcats finished 2-3, with victories over Montevallo (7-1) and Valdosta State (5-3). They will seek to bounce back from a 9-0 loss to Auburn-Montgomery that ended in six innings.
 
Rogers State aims to improve upon its 2025 record of 39-15 (16-8 MIAA), which included a runner-up finish at the MIAA Tournament and the team's fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. RSU will see many new faces, as they will roster nine transfers and six incoming freshmen.

TRACK AND FIELD PREVIEW
Rogers State track and field will split into two squads this weekend. One group will compete at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, Massachusetts, on Jan. 30-31, while the other will participate in the Pittsburg State Invitational in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Jan. 31.
 
A select group of athletes will compete at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, hosted by NCAA Division I Boston University at the University Track and Tennis Center. Women's running events are scheduled for Jan. 30, beginning at 8:30 a.m., while men's events will take place on Jan. 31, also starting at 8:30 a.m.
 
The remaining athletes will compete at the Pittsburg State Invitational at the Robert W. Plaster Center on Jan. 31, with running events beginning at noon. RSU aims to replicate its strong performance from last week at Pitt State, where a school record and 11 personal records were set on the Harvey Dean Track.