CLAREMORE, Okla.  –  Texas A&M International University women's basketball (0-24, 0-12 Heartland Conference) suffered a 71-44 Heartland Conference road setback to the Rogers State University Hillcats (13-12, 6-6 Heartland Conference) on Saturday afternoon. The Dustdevils are now 3-5 against the Hillcats dating back to the 2015-16 season.

The Dustdevils and Rogers State were locked in a scoreless tie until Ciera Walker scored the game's first bucket 2:22 into the game.

Tacoya Allen found Vanessa Oyola beyond the arc to give TAMIU a one-point edge (5-4) with 5:41 showing on the first quarter clock.

The Hillcats would later score the final four points of the opening stanza to give them an 11-7 lead at the buzzer.

Only 26 seconds into the second quarter, Allen knocked down a three-pointer. However, the triple quickly followed layups by Azaria Floyd and Darian Jackson to give the Hillcats a five-point advantage (15-10) with 8:11 left in the half.

Christine Ortega knocked down a pair of shots from the charity stripe and was followed by a layup by Troi Lucas to put TAMIU within one point (21-20) with 2:49 remaining in the second period.

Rogers State countered by compiling an 8-2 spurt that was sparked by a three-point play by Lauren Schuldt and was capped off on a Lindsey Byfield bucket from long distance to send the Hillcats into the break with a seven-point lead (29-22).

The Hillcats established their dominance in the third quarter by putting together 21 straight points between 7:02 and 1:29 to extend their lead to 24 (57-33) going into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Dustdevils tried to mount a comeback and went on a 7-0 run in a span of 1:14 that was ignited by an Oyola three-pointer and featured layups by Ciera Walker and Ortega that slashed the deficit to 19 with 7:42 showing on the scoreboard.

Rogers State continued to put points on the board and ultimately took a 27-point home victory.

TAMIU was led by Ortega for who posted a team-high 12 points and a game-high eight boards while Walker scored 10 points (4-of-8 FG) and added four rebounds.

Schuldt (7-of-10 FG) and Byfield (4-of-8 FG, 3-of-4 3FG) recorded 17 points apiece for Rogers State. Schuldt also had a team-high seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

In the end, Texas A&M International shot 28.8 percent (17-of-59) from the field, 20 percent (4-of-20) from three-point range and 66.7 percent (14-of-19) from the free-throw line while the Hillcats shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the floor, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from beyond the arc and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the charity stripe. Rogers State held the advantage in rebounds (42-36), steals (7-3), assists (15-9) and blocks (10-1).

The Dustdevils return home for a Heartland Conference matchup with St. Edward's University (14-12, 6-6 Heartland Conference) on Wednesday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m.