By Josh Haley, Progress Sports Correspondent
February 5, 2010 — The Rogers State women never seemed to wake up Thursday night at the Claremore Expo center as the Mid-America Christian Evangels pulled a 54 to 49 upset over the 25th ranked Hillcats.
The Hillcat women (16-6, 8-6 Sooner Athletic conference) turned the ball over 23 times and shot just 30 percent for the game in their second-lowest scoring total of the season.
“They did a good job of pressuring our guards and we just didn’t react well,” said RSU women’s coach Amy Williams.
The Hillcats managed to build a seven-point second half lead but continued to squander possession.
The Lady Evangels turned the tables for good when the RSU women went on an eight minute drought without a basket.
The loss to a less than impressive Mid-America Christian team could prove costly to the Hillcats as they are trying to make their first ever NAIA national tournament this March.
“Our team knows how important every game down the stretch is if want to achieve our goal of making the national tournament,” said Williams.
Weatherford, Okla. native April Hale scored a game-high 13 points for the Evangels and teammate Michelle Hardimon had eleven.
Senior point-guard Autumn Thompson led the Hillcats with nine points while Andrea Miles and Claremore native Logan Froese scored eight points apiece.
The RSU women will now travel to seventh-ranked Oklahoma City University on Saturday as they look to avenge a 22-point loss suffered to the Lady Stars in January.
