STILLWATER, Okla. — Members of Stillwater’s roller derby team, Angels of No Mercy, are pushing themselves to skate faster, block harder and rip bigger holes in their tights in preparation for their third bout of the season against the Tornado Alley Rollergirls at 7 p.m. Saturday at Payne County Expo Center.

Sixteen Stillwater women are a part of the team. Other women, such as two Oklahoma State University students recently did, regularly come to the practices to watch and try to decide if they’re interested in joining. This is the team’s third season in Stillwater.

Roller derby is a sport in which games are called bouts and consist of two 30-minute periods. The periods are made up of multiple jams lasting a maximum of two minutes. Each team has five players on the floor at a time: one jammer, one pivot and three blockers.

Teams receive points for each player the jammer passes on her second lap around the track.

Courtney Cupps, also known as Rabid Rae-Rae, plays the position of a blocker and has been with the team for about six months.

“I like skating,” she said. “I needed to release some stress.”

During a recent practice she fell, cracked her knee guard and lost some skin and blood.

“Tell me you’re not crying because you’re hurt?” shouted team founder and head coach Tamara LaMarche, also known as Twister T. “You’re crying because you’re mad.”

One of the team members looking after Cupps apologized.

“You’re not saying you’re sorry are you?” LaMarche told the team. “If I hear you say you’re sorry, everyone drops and gives me push-ups.”

While Cupps was upset about not being able to practice, she looked at the bright side.

“It’s going to be a really good bruise,” she said.

LaMarche was previously with the Oklahoma City Tornado Alley team for two years. She said one of the best things about the sport is the camaraderie.

“It’s about women coming together. It’s about self-esteem,” she said.

She said she doesn’t allow the women to use profanity or show too much skin since she wants to keep the bouts family-friendly. Doing so involves penalties, she said.

Several of the women have very normal day jobs. Cupps is an Oklahoma State University veterinary technician. Julie Box, also known as Affliction, has been skating with the team for about 17 months and works as an accountant. She said her family’s reactions to her joining the team were mixed.

“My mom was scared, thought I’d come home hurt,” she said, “but my boyfriend is just happy I have something to call my own, something with other girls.”

Several of the women cited stress-relief as a reason for playing.

“You gotta take it out somewhere,” Box said. “This is a good place.”

All of the women have skate names: Affliction, Angelic Poison, Batgirl, VuDu OnYu, Careena Smearnoff, Cordie, Dee Dee Capitator, Loud Lisa, Mad Maggie, Mary Tyler Gore, Rabid Rae Rae, Ragged E. Anne, Scarilyn Monroe, Spankie Pankie and Twister T.

Cupps said she doesn’t even know some of the women’s real names.

Fashion seems to be as much a part of the game as skating. Ripped tights, rainbow socks, black lace, argyle, stripes, skirts and shorts regularly fly around the track.

The women need more than a cute name and colorful outfit to play. They must pass minimum skill tests including 20 laps around the rink in five minutes.

After the bout this weekend, the team has five more for the season. The team still practices all year. Money from ticket sales goes toward renting the Expo Center, insurance, EMTs, an announcer and supporting the visiting team. The team also routinely raises money for special projects, LaMarche said. Last year, a bout benefited a Perkins child with cancer, and the team was able to raise $500 for him, she said.

Tickets are $8 in advance, $12 at the door and free for children 12 and younger. Call 405-264-3030 for tickets. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the bout at 7 p.m. Live music and concession will also be available. Visit. www.cordagirls.com for more information.