CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State fell behind early never fully recovered as the Hillcats lost 85-72 to No. 16 Oklahoma City University Saturday at the Claremore Expo.

The Stars started the game on an 11-1 run and kept the Cats at arm's length the rest of the night. Breezy Martin and Laura Duncan scored 20 points apiece to lead OCU. RSU senior Azzie Knox produced her eighth double-double of the season in the loss with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 

The Hillcats managed to hang tough after a rocky start. Autumn Thompson scored a bucket in the final seconds of the first half to cut the lead to single digits at the intermission. However, the Stars ripped off 25 points in just a five-minute span in the second stanza to expand the lead to 73-46 with 10:17 remaining. RSU outscored OCU 26-12 over the course of the final 10 minutes of the contest but came up well short of matching the Stars point total.
 

Knox scored 15 of her team-high 20 points in the second half. Sophomore Hunter Peterson tallied 14 points and went 3-for-5 from 3-point range while freshman guard Effanesia Baker added 10 points. The Hillcats had only four second half turnovers but were outrebounded 22-15 by the Stars in the period.
 

Rogers State (16-12, 10-10) lost its second consecutive game but maintained its hold on sixth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings. The Hillcats will host No. 3 Oklahoma Baptist in the final home game of the regular season Thursday night at the Claremore Expo. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be carried live on RSU Public Television and RSU Radio 91.3 FM. The first 1,500 fans will receive a free "RSU WHITE OUT" t-shirt courtesy of Pixley Lumber and 1st Bank of Oklahoma.