BETHANY, Okla. - The Rogers State women's basketball team let a 12-point halftime lead slip through its fingers as No. 21 Southern Nazarene rallied past the Hillcats, 60-55, at the Sawyer Center on Saturday night.
The Crimson Storm opened the second half with a 15-2 run that depleted the Cats 12-point halftime advantage. From there, it was a back and forth affair until the eight minute mark when the Crimson Storm used a 9-0 run to grab the lead. The Cats didn't back down answering with a 7-0 rally to regain a one-point lead. Sophomore Oumoul Thiam hit the go-ahead jumper for SNU with 54 second remaining. RSU was unable to convert a bucket at the other end of the court and was forced to foul with 26 seconds remaining. Thiam knocked down both of her free shots from the stripe to increase the Crimson Storm's led to three. SNU took a five-point lead with two more made free throws after a Hillcat turnover. Senior Candice Stewart hit a layup with four seconds reaming but Thiam put away consecutive free throws to ice the win.
Thiam poured in 20 points while her teammate Logan Martin led all scorers with 23 points. The duo combined for over half the Crimson Storm's points.
SNU jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the opening half. However, the Cats took over as they out-scored SNU 28-7 in the final 11 minutes of the first stanza. Senior Hunter Peterson ignited the run with a bucket from long distance and finished the stretch with a jumper at the buzzer. RSU held a 33-21 advantage at the break.
Peterson led the Hillcats in scoring on the night with 13 points. Senior Cortney Crockett followed with 12 points and Stewart added 10 points. The Cats shot just 33 percent from the floor, 60 percent from the charity strip and 20 percent from behind the arc.
Rogers State (12-7, 6-6) moves into a tie for fifth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference after tonight's loss to SNU. The Storm clings to third place in the standings, three games back from the leader, OCU. The Hillcats will return to the Claremore Expo on Thursday night as they host Oklahoma Christian at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on RSU Public Television and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM. The first 1,000 fans in attendance at the Expo will receive a free collectable bobblehead, courtesy of RSU athletics.
