SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. - Strong guard play and a new addition in the post made the difference as Rogers State avenged a home loss to John Brown with a 67-58 victory Saturday in Siloam Springs, Ark.

Three players posted double digit point totals and all three were perimeter players for the Hillcats. Autumn Thompson led the Hillcats with 14 points and went 3-of-3 from behind the 3-point arc.

Freshman guard Effanesia Baker made her presence known early, scoring eight of her 12 points in the first half. Baker did it in every way possible by slashing to the basket, hitting a 3-point shot, and going 5-for-6 from the free throw line in only 15 minutes of play off the bench.

Hunter Peterson scored 10 points for Coach Amy Williams' squad who also welcomed senior Azzie Knox back to the lineup for her first action of the season. Knox nearly posted a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points. The 5'11 forward was impressive in her season debut. She started and played a pivotal 27 minutes while "go-to" forward Katie Rice was plagued with foul trouble.

The Hillcats most impressive stat line was their assist-to-turnover ratio, with 13 dishes and only 11 miscues. It marked RSU's lowest turnover total of the season.
RSU shot 38 percent from 3-point range and made 63 percent of its free throws. The Golden Eagles struggled from downtown, shooting just 13 percent from behind the arc for the game and missed all eight of their attempts in the first half.
 

Rogers State (6-4, 2-2) picked up its second consecutive conference win and moved up to sixth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. The Hillcats will travel to Tyler, Texas, for a rematch with Texas College Tuesday in the final game before Christmas break. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. and there is no media coverage for the event.