SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Senior forward Natasha Kindred scored a season-high 18 points in a 75-61 loss by the Rogers State women's basketball team at No. 17-ranked St. Mary's in the Heartland Conference opener for both teams at Bill Greehey Arena on Saturday (Dec. 17).
 
After a close first period, the Rattlers (9-2, 1-0) used a strong second period to build a 16-point 40-24 halftime advantage. StMU outscored RSU 25-10 in the second stanza.
 
Holding a slight 19-17 edge in the second period, the Rattlers went on a 13-0 run to gain a 32-17 lead midway through the period. The navy and red ended the spurt on a layup from Lauren Schuldt. With 43 seconds left in the half, the Rattlers were in front, 40-21, but the Hillcats scored the final three points of the period on a three-point play from Rachel Block with 21 seconds remaining.
 
The Rattlers went up by their largest advantage of the game at 56-34 with 5:21 remaining in the third period on a layup from LaBraile Fields. The Cats slowly chipped into the lead trailing by only 11 points at 70-59 late in the fourth period, but RSU couldn't get any closer in the 75-61 loss.
 
Kindred totaled her 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field in only 13 minutes. She added a team-high five rebounds. Also in double figures was Schuldt with 12 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
 
The Cats shot 44.4 percent (24-54) from the field, including 50 percent (15-30) in the second half. RSU went 3-of-17 shooting from 3 for 17.6 percent. The navy and red shot only 43.5 percent (10-23) from the free throw line.
 
Three Rattlers finished in double figures with Fields tallying a game-high 19 points. Arysia Porter posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while Tia Mason went for 11 points off the bench.
 
StMU went 26-of-53 shooting from the field for 49.1 percent, including 47.1 percent (8-17) from 3.
 
The Hillcats (4-7, 0-1) end their three-game road trip at Texas A&M International on Monday (Dec. 19) in Laredo, Texas. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. with coverage available on the Hillcat Network on www.rsuhillcats.com/live and on RSU Radio 91.3 FM (KRSC).