CLAREMORE, Okla. - The No. 14 Rogers State women's basketball team was unable to knock-off No. 11 MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday afternoon as the Pioneers cruised to a 98-74 victory inside the Claremore Expo.
The Pioneers never trailed in the contest as they opened the game with a 16-6 advantage in the first five minutes of play and never looked back. MNU surged to a 24-point lead with a 15-2 run midway through the first stanza. The Hillcats were able to cut the deficit 49-21 at the break with a layup by Sierra Cornwell at the buzzer.
RSU opened the second period with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 12 points. Midway through the half the Hillcats cut the MNU lead to 10 points with a jumper by Logan Froese. RSU's momentum was short-lived as the Pioneers stormed back with a 21-8 spurt to regain a 23-point lead and held the double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Cornwell provided a bright spot on the night as she nabbed four steals and broke the RSU career steals record. The reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year has compiled 167 swipes during her two seasons on the Hill. Cornwell, a senior from Preston, Okla., now holds every individual steals record in the RSU record books. Andrea Miles, who played for the Hillcats from 2007-2011, previously held the record with 165 career steals.
For the sixth time this season, Leah Smith led the Hillcats in scoring with 21 points and seven rebounds. Froese was the only other RSU player to reach double digits as she tallied 16 points.
Five MNU players reached double figures scoring, led by Kiley Herold with 16 points. The Pioneers shot 55 percent from the field, 56 percent from long distance and 83 percent from the charity stripe. MNU owned the boards as the team outrebounded the Hillcats, 59-27.
Rogers State (10-4) will open Sooner Athletic Conference play on the road at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha, Okla. on January 3rd at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.
