CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State women's basketball (2-7, 0-3 MIAA) fought hard but came up short in the 85-79 MIAA home opener to Emporia State (6-1, 2-0 MIAA) on Thursday.
 
Bailey Kliewer led the Hillcats with a season-high 18 points with four rebounds, four assists and two blocks. She was a sterling 10-for-10 from the charity stripe and is only the second player in school history to accomplish that feat. The senior is also the first player since Lauren Schuldt at Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2019 to go at least 8-for-8 from the line, and the first to make 10 free throws since Jordan Lewis made 11 last season at Northwest Missouri.
 
Kaya Goldsby also dropped a season-high with 16 points, a game-high six assists, six rebounds and two steals. Trinity Jackson pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to go with four points, two assists and a block.
 
As a team, the Hillcats tied the single game program record with 13 made three-pointers, which is the second time they have done it this season with the first coming in the home opener against Randall on Nov. 22.
 
RSU was a little slow out of the gate as the Lady Hornets opened the game on a 7-2 run, but quickly rebounded and tied things at 7-7 thanks to a three-pointer from Briana Baker-Bruce and a layup from Kliewer. From there things stayed tight for the remainder of the quarter as ESU never got more than a two-possession lead. They carried an 18-15 margin into the final 10 minutes of the half.
 
The Lady Hornets ran out to their largest lead of the game at 25-15 thanks to a 7-0 run to start the second quarter. However, as would become a theme in the game, the Hillcats whittled the deficit back down to 29-26 with an 11-4 run. RSU kept working and managed to drive the lead down to just 31-30 headed into the break.
 
In the third quarter, things remained extremely close with ESU not able to build out an advantage larger than six points for much of the period. They managed to go up eight points at 53-45 with just over three minutes left, but RSU again reined them in and only trailed 56-53 going into the fourth quarter.
 
In the final 10 minutes, the Hillcats kept getting extremely close but were unable to get over the hump and gain a lead. Every time RSU would pull within one or two points, ESU would drive down the floor and knock down a shot to kill any momentum the Hillcats tried to build. Eventually, the Lady Hornets escaped with the 85-79 victory.
 
RSU will need a short memory as they are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 10 and play host to Washburn in the final home game of the calendar year. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m.