MOORHEAD, Minn. – Rogers State women's basketball (0-1) dropped a 63-40 decision to Minnesota State Moorhead (1-0) in the first game of the Regional Challenge to open the 2022-23 season on Friday.
Â
Jordan Lewis led the Hillcats with 11 points to go along with two rebounds and a steal.
Bailey Kliewer finished one point and two rebounds shy of a double-double with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds as well as a block.
Mariana Minotto contributed eight points with a steal.
Â
The game opened with a defensive feeling out process as neither team scored until the 6:23 mark in the first quarter as MSUM got a jumper to go up 2-0. From there, RSU was outscored 17-4 in the period.
Â
In final 10 minutes of the half, the Hillcats found their footing and opened the quarter on a 14-4 run to cut the deficit 21-18 with just over three minutes left. Unfortunately, the Dragons would slow them down as they only got one more field goal in the remainder of the half and trailed 32-20 going into the break, even though RSU outscored MSUM 16-15 in the period.
Â
After the Hillcats opened the second half with two layups from
Sydney Ellis and
Trinity Jackson to cut the lead to 32-24, the Dragons ripped off an 8-2 run to push back out to 40-25. MSUM took a 44-29 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
Â
RSU tried to battle back in the fourth quarter, but they went cold shooting going five and a half minutes without scoring. In that span, MSUM went on an 8-0 run to go up 54-32. The Dragons closed out the game with a 63-40 decision.
Â
The Hillcats will wrap up the Regional Classic on Saturday, Nov. 12 as they take on Northern State. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
Â
