ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Rogers State women's basketball held a nine-point lead going into the final period, but host Henderson State rallied to defeat the Hillcats 55-52 on Saturday (Dec. 16) at the Duke Wells Center.
 
RSU (4-8) used a strong third period to erase a slight 25-23 halftime deficit and took a 42-33 advantage into the final period. After the Reddies gained a 29-27 edge on two free throws midway through the third, the navy and red went on a 15-4 run to end the stanza to pull out to the 42-33 lead.
 
Lindsey Byfield was a key part of the run with three 3-pointers. She opened the spurt with a triple for a 30-29 RSU edge and after two Nikola Nedoroscikova jumpers, Byfield hit again from deep for a 37-30 score with 2:09 remaining in the period. Byfield gave RSU its largest lead at 42-31 with the third 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in the third. HSU ended the period with a layup for the nine-point margin going into the fourth.
 
The Reddies began the fourth period with a 13-0 run to take a 46-42 advantage with 4:05 remaining in the game. HSU pushed the lead out to 52-45 in the final minute and hung on for the 55-52 come-from-behind victory.
 
The teams flipped control of the contest in each period. HSU built a 15-6 lead after one period, and RSU closed the gap to two at 25-23 at halftime after winning the second period by a 17-10 score. The third period continued to be all RSU with a 19-8 advantage, but the Reddies controlled the final stanza by a 22-10 margin for the 55-52 final score.
 
Lauren Schuldt finished with a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds. Desiree Nelson added 10 points, and Byfield had nine points.
 
HSU's Torrie Thompson totaled a game-high 15 points, and Haleigh Henson went for 13 points.
 
The Hillcats are off until after the holiday break. RSU returns to action on Jan. 4 at Newman at 5:30 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.