FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Rogers State women's basketball team opened the Heartland Conference slate with a 90-57 loss on the road at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday evening from Stubblefield Center.
 
The Hillcats and the Lady Lions traded buckets to start the game but UAFS used a 6-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. RSU silenced the spurt with a three pointer from Mikaila Newton. The Lady Lions took their first double-digit lead with six minutes to play in the half with a trey from Ashley Bean to make it a 24-14 game. UAFS carried the momentum into halftime, outscoring the Hillcats 20-5 to close out the stanza for a 44-19 lead.
 
The Lady Lions held their double-digit advantage throughout the second stanza. The Hillcats matched the Lions to start the second half but were unable to overcome the first-half deficit.
 
RSU committed a season-high 26 turnovers in the game.  A poor shooting night plagued the Hillcats, shooting just 50 percent from the free throw line and 33.3 percent from the field. 
 
Newton led the Hillcats in scoring with 22 points and eight boards. UAFS won the battle on the boards, 55-40, while the Lady Lions were led in scoring by Angi Ramey with 15 points and 13 boards.
 
Rogers State (2-7, 0-1 HC) will break for the holidays and return to action in 2015 on the road at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on January 1 at 5:30 p.m. Live audio will be available on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM.