CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's basketball team used solid defense and execution down the stretch to claim a 60-56 victory over the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
After struggling from the field early, RSU used a pair of triples from Lindsey Byfield and Courtney Smith to take a 9-6 lead at the end of the first stanza. Tatyana Bell paced OPSU by scoring all 6 Aggies' points in the quarter.
 
OPSU used an 8-0 run to start the second quarter to take its first lead of the game, 14-9. Denise Levine hit three triples in the second period to help the Aggies take a 17-15 advantage into intermission.
 
The shooting woes continued for both teams into the second period as the Aggies and Hillcats shot just 20.7 and 17.2 percent, respectively, from the field in the first half.
 
RSU used a 12-0 run at the end of the third quarter to take control of the contest. Kami Bunch had four points and two assists during the stretch pushing the Hillcats' lead to 39-27. Kiera Waters nailed a three-pointer to close the period for OPSU narrowing the margin to 39-30.
 
The Aggies responded in the fourth taking a 50-49 lead after a pair of free throws from Bell with 2:32 remaining. RSU worked the inside game in the closing minutes getting a pair of layups from Natasha Kindred and four free throws from Bunch to edge out the Aggies, 60-56.
 
Emily Gamble posted the first double-double of her career with a 10-point, 11-rebound performance. Bunch and Smith each scored 13 points for RSU to lead the offense, while Bunch added six assists in the Heartland Conference victory.
 
Bell and Denise Levine provided nearly all the scoring for the Aggies as Bell had a 24-point, 16-rebound outing and Levine added 14 points on four triples.
 
The Hillcats (9-5 Overall, 4-3 HC) will start a four-game road trip when they travel to Wichita, Kansas to face the Jets of Newman. The game is slated for 5:30 p.m. tipoff on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Fugate Gymnasium. Listen to all the action live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.