(Peru, Neb.) – After leading by as many as 13 late in the game, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team held on for their second straight win over the visiting Evangel University Crusaders 61-59 on the PSC campus.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 2-19 overall and 2-7 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  Evangel falls to 7-11 and 5-4 in the HAAC.
 
Game Action
 
The Crusaders got on the board first taking the opening tip and making a three-pointer.  Peru State countered as Katie Potter (Omaha) hit a trey on the assist from Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) to knot it at 3-3 with less than a minute gone in the game.
 
The 'Cats came back and took the lead when Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to give PSC a 5-3 lead at 18:21 to go in the first half.  A free throw by Tate and two free throws by Marida Lewis (Kansas City, Mo.) gave Peru State an 8-3 lead before Evangel hit a free throw cutting it to 8-4. 
 
A 6-0 run by the Bobcats gave them a ten-point lead at 14-4 before Evangel would get their next bucket.  The teams would continue to trade buckets before Evangel slowly cut into the Peru State's lead getting it to a five-point margin.  At halftime, PSC maintained a 27-23 advantage.
 
The Bobcats scored the first five points of the second half on a bucket by Jasmine Lockwood (Sunrise, Fla.), a free throw by Ward, and another bucket by Lockwood on the assist from Tate giving PSC a 32-23 lead. 
 
An Evangel bucket was countered by another bucket by Ward making it a nine-point advantage at 34-25.  Another Crusader hoop was followed by an old-fashioned three-point play by Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) giving PSC the double-digit lead at 37-27 with just over 15 minutes left in the game. 
 
After an Evangel field goal, Potter scored seven straight points while Evangel managed one hoop putting PSC up by their largest margin at that point at 44-31 with just under ten minutes to play.
 
A 7-3 Crusader run got it back to single digits for the Crusaders making it 47-38 with 8:30 left in the game.  The 'Cats stopped the run as Tai'ler Warren (Omaha) made one of two free throws giving Peru State another double-digit margin at 48-38. 
 
The 'Cats extended their lead to 13 when Warren hit a three making it 51-38.  Peru State maintained its double-digit lead until the Crusaders got it back to single digits at 53-44 with just over two minutes left on the clock.  Down the stretch, Evangel managed to hit a couple of threes and their free throws to get it back to a 59-54 with just 20 seconds left. 
 
Two free throws by Potter gave the 'Cats a seven-point lead at 61-54.  Another three-pointer by Evangel cut it to 61-57.  After PSC missed a free throw and then had a free throw violation, the Crusaders brought it down the court in a hurry and the Bobcats were called for a foul with only seconds remaining.  Evangel made both to make it 61-59.  Peru State got the ball in bounds and was immediately fouled, but missed the free throw and the game was over.
 
Team Statistics
 
The shooting percentages for the teams were similar in all three categories.  Peru State shot 36.5% from the floor making 19 of 52.  From behind the arc, the 'Cats had one of their better shooting nights making five of ten for 50%.  PSC continued to struggle from the line making 18 of their 34 tries for 52.9%.
 
Evangel struggled as well from the charity stripe hitting 12 of 23 for 52.2%.  From the floor, the Crusaders were 19 of 44 for 33.3%.  While their percentage from three-point range was lower than PSC's, Evangel made nine shots out of 24 for 37.5% which helped keep the game close, especially at the end.
 
Peru State out-rebounded the taller Crusaders 42-35.  The Bobcats committed 18 turnovers while Evangel had 14.

GAME BOX SCORE