Box Score
Claremore, OKLA. — A career showing from freshman
Kiara Etheridge was overshadowed by the Rattlers' loss to Rogers State Thursday, as the Hillcats posted an upsetting victory, 82-76.
Powering to shoot over 50 percent from the floor (7-14), Etheridge (San Antonio) hit a career-high 17 points against the Hillcats in the loss, nearly pulling in her first career double double with eight rebounds.
In her first game breaking double digits, Etheridge joined three other Rattlers in double figures Thursday at the Claremore Expo Center.
Morgan Pullins (Jr., Franklin, Mich.) led with team-highs in points and rebounds with 20 and nine, respectively, while
Jackie Woods (Sr., San Antonio), who played the entire 40 minutes, chipped in 19 points and led in assists with five.
Draining an impressive four 3-pointers in six attempts,
Dezirae Elias (So., Chandler, Ariz.) tallied 14 points and led in steals with five.
A three-pointer from Elias sent St. Mary's Women's Basketball up by four into the half, 39-35, after the Rattlers led by as much as 12 in the first frame.
The second frame was back and forth until the Hillcats tore a 12-0 run and led by 15 with 3:40 remaining.
The Rattlers were able to chop the Hillcat lead to just four with 16 seconds remaining, 80-76, largely due to Pullins who recorded 18 of her 20 total points in the second half.
But StMU wasn't able to get their final shot off in the last seconds as they were outscored by Rogers State 47-37 in the last half to record its fifth road loss on the season.
The Hillcats recorded their fifth win in Heartland Conference play against the Rattlers, improving to 5-11 and 8-14 overall while the Rattlers remain the No. 2 team in the league with a 9-5 conference record and a 14-6 overall record.
St. Mary's will look to shine up its road play at 1 p.m. Saturday against UA Fort Smith in Fort Smith, Ark.
