SPRINGDALE, Ark. – No. 8 Rogers State made the most of its first trek outside the Claremore Expo knocking off Ecclesia College 80-52 inside Har-Ber Auxillary Gym.

RSU opened with a 17-0 run in the first eight minutes of play before allowing the Royals on the scoreboard with a Sibyl Thomas jumper trimmed the Hillcats lead to 17-2. Coach Roxanne Long's squad established its largest lead of the half at 32 points off a Logan Froese field goal with 1:36 remaining in the first stanza. The Cats entered the halftime locker room leading 41-11.

The Hillcat lead grew to 39 points at the 15:26 mark in the second half on a free throw by Clarissa Cannon. EC trimmed the Hillcat lead to 27 the smallest margin for the remainder of the game with a traditional three point play by Tiffany Wiseley as RSU led 57-30 with 12:49 remaining.

RSU outscored the Royals in the final stretch 23-22 to put the final tally at 80-52. The Hillcats pulled in 45 boards to EC's 28 as RSU connected on 75 percent from the charity stripe. From the field RSU shot 45.2 percent from the field and went 6-of-18 from behind the arc.

Ecclesia (1-6) committed 27 turnovers as RSU nabbed 18 steals led by Sierra Cornwell with five steals. The Royals' Caitlyn Johnson led all scorers with 14 points making 4-of-8 3-pointers for the night.

Leah Smith led the Hillcats in scoring totaling 12 points as all 11 players for RSU scored points. Rician Walker finished with six points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals starting at point guard. Sophomore Larrielle Giles pulled in 10 rebounds and added nine points for the Hillcats.

Rogers State (3-0) travels to Bartlesville, Okla. for the OKWU Classic at Oklahoma Wesleyan facing Kansas Wesleyan at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. RSU Radio 91.3FM will provide live play-by-play along with the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.