BETHANY, Okla. - Southern Nazarene used a distinct size advantage in the paint to outmuscle Rogers State 69-51 in Sooner Athletic Conference play at the Sawyer Center in Bethany Thursday night.
 

The Hillcats had no answer for SNU senior Tejana Elmore who used her 6-3 frame to post 22 points and nine rebounds in leading the No. 15 Crimson Storm to its fifth conference victory in six games.
 

The Crimson Storm led by just seven points at halftime but shot 57-percent from the field in the second period to pull away for the win. RSU held a 4-2 lead in the early going before a 12-0 run by SNU gave the home team a comfortable lead it would never relinquish. The Hillcats trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half before closing the half on a 10-1 run.
 

However, the Cats couldn't keep pace with the Storm after the break. SNU connected on 4-of-5 threes and built a 22 point advantage with 11 minutes to play in the game. RSU made just one 3-point basket in the game and shot 32-percent from the floor.
 

Mara Kee and Lashelle Chandler combined to hit 5-of-7 treys and scored 12 points apiece. Hayley KnifeChief led RSU with 11 points. Hunter Peterson added eight points. Yoda Woods and Erica Taylor each had seven. RSU committed only 16 turnovers to the Crimson Storm's 20 but SNU held a 45-to-38 rebounding advantage.
 

Rogers State (7-7, 3-3) lost consecutive games for the first time all season after facing back-to-back Top 15 programs. The Hillcats will stay on the road this weekend as they travel to Chickasha to face the University of Science and Arts on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. and the game can be heard live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.