CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State avoided a potential letdown performance following Monday's emotional win with a strong second half effort to defeat St. Gregory's (Shawnee, Okla.), 60-36 Wednesday night at the Claremore Expo.
 

After an ugly first half that ended with the game tied at 23-23, the Hillcats opened the second frame with a 19-0 run to pull away for their seventh consecutive victory. RSU held St. Gregory's scoreless for the first nine and a half minute after halftime and didn't yield a second half field goal until the 6:07 mark. The Cats outscored the Lady Cavs 37-13 in the second half to record their fifth straight win of at least 19 points.
 

Senior Azzie Knox turned in her second stellar performance of the week with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Sophomore Katie Rice joined Knox in double figures with 12 points.
 

Both teams struggled to find any rhythm in the first half as they combined to shoot 33 percent from the floor. RSU trailed entering the final minute of the half, but Sophia Piggie scored the final bucket to knot the game at 23-23.
 

The Hillcats picked up their effort on both ends of the floor in the second half. RSU held the Lady Cavs to 12 percent shooting (4-for-33) while connecting on 48 percent of its shots. Rice poured in 10 second half points while Piggie and Andrea Miles each added seven. Nkechi Okorie finally broke the SGU scoring drought on a free throw with 10:29 remaining, but by that point the Cats had the game firmly in their grasp.
 

Rogers State (11-4, 5-2) maintained its fourth place positioning in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings with the victory. The Hillcats will put their seven-game winning streak on the line Saturday as they travel to Shawnee, Okla., to face No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.