OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Rogers State women's basketball team's run through the Sooner Athletic Tournament ended on Saturday afternoon as the Cats fell, 52-48, to No. 2 seeded and 18th-ranked Southern Nazarene in the championship game at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University.
With two minutes remaining in the game, senior Hunter Peterson drained a shot from long distance to give the Cats their first lead of the second half. The Hillcats one-point advantage was shot lived as the Crimson Storm returned with a conventional three-point play by Sharmeda Johnson to gain a 44-42 lead. SNU increased its lead to four with a steal by Kristin Milster and a layup by Abby Marra. It looked like the Storm had the win wrapped up with a pair of free throws by Logan Martin however, the Cats battled back with a layup and a free throw by Peterson. Trailing by four with 19 seconds remaining, RSU was forced to foul. Oumoul Thiam drained both of her free throws to push SNU's lead to five. Sophomore Angie Criner raced down the court and knocked down a trey but the Storm's sharp shooting from the charity stripe carried them down the stretch as Marsha Durr sealed the win with a pair of made free shots.
SNU opened the second stanza with a seven-point advantage but the Cats used a 7-0 run to knot the score at 28-28 and the teams traded buckets for the remainder of the game.
The score was tied five times in the opening half. The Storm took the largest lead of the first stanza with a jumper by Milster and SNU took a 26-21 lead into the break.
There were 10 lead changes in the contest and the score was tied seven times. Peterson and Candice Stewart led the Cats in scoring with 11 points apiece. Stewart pulled in 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.
The Storm edged the Cats on the boards 39-36. RSU nabbed 10 steals while SNU committed 20 turnovers. RSU shot 32 percent from the field, 46 percent from long distance and 60 percent the charity stripe.
Sharmeda Johnson was named the SAC Tournament MVP. She led the Storm with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Criner, Stewart and Cortney Crockett were named to the All-Tournament Team. Crockett also earned the Hustle Award for her efforts in the tournament.
Rogers State (23-9, 15-7) will find out its postseason fortune on Wednesday, March 8 as the NAIA will announce the Division I Women's Basketball National Championship field of 32. The Championship begins March 16th and runs through March 22 in Jackson, Tenn.
