CLAREMORE. Okla. – Rogers State women's basketball fell in an overtime heartbreaker Thursday night against Missouri Southern, falling to the Lions 81-78 at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
Vanessa Gajdosova hit a three pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 71-71, but the Hillcats were unable to complete the comeback, as Missouri Southern rallied to score the final five points over overtime to win the game.
 
How It Happened: The Hillcats and the Lions traded baskets and leads to begin the first quarter before Rogers State went on an 8-2 run at the end of the opening frame to take a 19-12 advantage.
 
However, Missouri Southern went on an 8-0 run to begin the second quarter and take over the lead. After Kloe Bowin put RSU back in front 21-20, Missouri Southern went on a 6-0 run to take a lead it did not relinquish for the remainder of the half, going into the break ahead 31-28.
 
Lilly Garner had five points early in the second half on a jumper and a three pointer and then a three pointer from Gajdosova and a three-point play from Bailey Kliewer gave the Hillcats a 39-37 lead with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The lead would change five times and then be tied at 47 with a three pointer from Samariah Thompson, but the Lions would use a 5-0 run over the final 1:54 of the third to regain control of the game.
 
Missouri Southern extended the lead to as much as 11 early in the fourth quarter, but the Hillcats cut the deficit to four with 18 seconds remaining after a three pointer from Gajdosova.
 
After a free throw from the Lions, Thompson went to the line and made two free throws to cut the deficit to 71-68 with 11 seconds left.
 
Rogers State then forced a turnover on an offensive foul to set up a chance to tie the game, which Gajdosova capitalized on after taking a pass from Julie Luna and making a three pointer with just over a second remaining.
 
The Hillcats took the first lead in the overtime with a pair of free throws from Thompson. However, Missouri Southern used a 5-0 run to go up by three less than a minute into the extra session.
 
The Hillcats responded with their own 5-0 fun, including four points from Kloe Bowin, but Missouri Southern responded with the final five points in the last 58 seconds.
 
Key Statistics: Missouri Southern outscored Rogers State 38-20 in the paint. A large portion of the 38 points came from Madi Stokes, who finished with 31 points and 21 rebounds for Missouri Southern.
 
The Lions also shot 50 percent from the field for the game, despite going 1-for-9 from behind the arc. The Hillcats shot 31 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
 
Players of Note: Gajdosova led the Hillcats with 19 points, including a career high five three pointers. She also had six assists, three steals and three rebounds.
 
Thompson continued her streak of double figure games, finishing with 15 points. She has now finished in double figures in 13 straight games dating back to last season. Thompson also had six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
 
Bailey Kliewer was the only other Hillcat in double figures. The sophomore finished with 11 points. She also shared for the lead in rebounds for the Hillcats with seven boards. She added two steals and two assists.
 
Along with seven rebounds, Bowin finished with eight points and two blocked shots.
 
Shay Stone matched a career high with five blocked shots in the game. She also had six rebounds.
 
Notables: The Hillcats matched a season high with eight blocked shots, tying a performance from last Thursday at Lincoln.
 
Rogers State also matched a season high in assists, finishing with 17, which tied the 17 assists the Hillcats had at Missouri Southern in December.
 
The Hillcats hit at least 10 three pointers for the third time in the last four games.
 
Rogers State remains winless against Missouri Southern, falling to 0-5 in series history.
 
The Hillcats set a season high with 24 free throws made in the game. RSU was 24-for-27, shooting 88.9 percent, just shy of a season high 89.5 percent done twice this season.
 
Up Next: The Hillcats wrap up the three-game homestand with Rogers State's Homecoming Game on Saturday against Pittsburg State. Rogers State won on the road at Pittsburg State, 80-76, earlier this season. The Hillcats and Gorillas will tip off at 1:30 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center.