FORT SMITH, Ark. – The No. 8 Rogers State women's basketball team spoiled the Lady Lions Thanksgiving Classic defeating the host University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, 81-73, Saturday afternoon inside the Stubblefield Center.

It was a Leah Smith 3-pointer just four minutes into the game off an assist from Larrielle Giles that gave RSU a nine point lead at 13-4.The Lady Lions would respond tying the game on a Danielle McFadden free throw with 10:01 to go in the half. The lead would change hands three times before the intermission as UAFS would hold the 40-39 lead.

Coming out of the halftime locker rooms the two squads would exchange the lead before Clarissa Cannon's layup with 13:31 remaining gave RSU the 48-47 lead. The Hillcats would hold onto the advantage the remainder of the game building the lead to ten with 27 seconds remaining on a pair of Smith free throws.

Senior guard Leah Smith led the way for RSU as the Kansas City, Mo. native totaled 22 points with 13 coming in the second stanza. Shooting 6-of-14 from the field she led all scorers in the game hitting a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Ariani Silva tallied 12 points in the start for coach Roxanne Long while Cannon totaled 11 points in just eight minutes of playing time. RSU out-rebounded the Lady Lions 46-45 while shooting 44.3 percent from the field. The Hillcats hit 85.2 percent from the free throw line.

Forward Katie BenAmor led NCAA Division II UA-Fort Smith with 16 points. Danielle McFadden added 13 points while Tiffany Addison finished with 10 for the Lady Lions. UAFS (2-2) shot 34.6 percent from the field hitting 84.6 percent from the charity stripe.

Rogers State (6-1) will return home on Thursday, Nov. 29 to face Hillsdale Freewill Baptist College with a 6 p.m. tip inside the Claremore Expo. RSU Radio 91.3FM will broadcast the game and carry it online at www.rsuradio.com. Live video streaming will be provided for free by the Hillcat athletic department on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.