CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State women's basketball (7-17, 1-14 MIAA) fell 74-44 to Central Oklahoma (7-17, 6-9 MIAA) on Saturday.
 
Kate Melton led the Hillcats with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and a block. Ella Hafer added 10 points with three rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. Emma Kay Martin cleaned up a team-high five rebounds with Cheyan McDaniel logging a team-high two steals.
 
The game was close early with RSU opening on a 5-2 run. However, the Bronchos used an 8-0 run to jump out to a 10-5 lead. They closed out the first quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 16-9 advantage into the final 10 minutes of the half.
 
The second quarter was all UCO as they outscored the Hillcats 24-10. Six quick points to start the period gave them their first double digit lead of the game at 22-9. The Bronchos continued to knock down threes, shooting 5-for-9 from deep in the quarter, and carried a 40-19 lead into the break.
 
Things didn't get any better for RSU in the third quarter as UCO outscored them 28-14. The Bronchos opened the half on a 7-0 run to push out to a 47-19 lead. They eventually took a 68-31 advantage into the fourth quarter.
 
The Hillcats refused to go down without a fight in the final 10 minutes as they outscored UCO 11-6 in the period. They started the period on a 6-1 run to get the deficit down to 69-39. Unfortunately, that would be as close as they would get, even though they closed out the game on 5-0 run to set the final score at 74-44.
 
RSU will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 20 as they begin the final road trip of the regular season with a stop in Warrensburg, Mo. to face off against Central Missouri. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.