(Peru, Neb.) – Valiant comebacks in both halves of the game were not enough as the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team remained winless on the season falling to 0-11 for the year.  The Bobcats fell on the road at the hands of the Culver-Stockton Wildcats 68-60.
 
The Wildcats improve to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  PSC is now 0-3 in the HAAC.
 
After trailing by as many of 12 in the first half, the Bobcats came back to take a two-point lead with just over two minutes remaining the half.  However, that was short-lived as Culver-Stockton finished the half with a 7-0 run making it 27-22. 
 
The second half was back and forth throughout with PSC cutting it two points at one point before the Wildcats prevailed with the 68-60 victory.
 
First Half Action
 
It took over three minutes before either team would score with Culver-Stockton getting on the board first with a three pointer at the 16:41 mark.  The Wildcats would score again before the Bobcats would get on the board with a layup by Sydney Young (Omaha) cutting it to 5-2 CSC.
 
Culver-Stockton would score the next six points taking an 11-2 lead forcing the 'Cats to take a timeout.   After another 90 seconds of no scoring, Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) was able to convert on one of two free throws cutting the lead to eight at 11-3.
 
Following a three by the Wildcats, Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.), who was playing with two fouls, hit a bucket making it 14-5 with 11:53 left in the first stanza.  CSC came right back with another two putting their lead back to 11.
 
With just under ten minutes to go, Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) hit the second of two free throws making it CSC 16-6.  The teams traded buckets with Katie Potter (Omaha) connecting with a jumper making it 18-8 at 8:31.  The 'Cats finally cut the lead to single digits when Amelia Allington (Ashland) hit a jumper in the paint with 7:21 to go as it was still CSC 18-10. 
 
PSC made it closer as they capitalized on a Wildcat turnover with Ward hitting a layup making it 18-12 with 6:38 left.  The four-point run by the 'Cats forced a Wildcat turnover.
 
Another bucket by Ward cut it four at 18-14 with just under five minutes to go.  A steal by Ward was rewarded as she made another bucket to cut it to a two-point deficit at 18-16 with 4:22 left in the first half.  It was Ward again just 30 seconds later as hit both free throws to knot the game at 18 each. 
 
A PSC foul allowed CSC to regain the lead as the Wildcats converted on both free throws to go up 20-18.  On the next possession, Ward was fouled and made her 11^th and 12^th points of the half to tie it again at 20-20 with 3:32 left in the half. 
 
With 3:15 to go, PSC took their first lead of the game as Candace Simmons (Sargent) hit the front end of a one and one to go ahead 21-20.  Potter extended the Bobcat lead to 22-20 making one of two free throw attempts. 
 
It did not take long for the Wildcats to tie it up as they did so on their next trip down the court.  A Bobcat miss was rebounded by CSC and they regained the lead 24-22.  Another quick Wildcat bucket followed putting CSC up 26-22 with 1:21 to go in the half.  The Wildcats got another point on a free throw to lead 27-22 with 53 ticks left on the clock.  That would be the final score of the half as PSC was unable to convert on a couple of tries with the clock running down.
 
For the half, both teams were cold from the floor.  CSC made nine of 34 field goals for 26.5% while PSC was seven of 31 for 22.6%.  The 'Cats did not hit any of their six three-point attempts while CSC made three of 11 for 27.3%.  Peru State did get two more free throws than CSC, but the Wildcats shot 75%, making six of eight, while the Bobcats were eight of 14 for 57.1%. 
 
The remaining stats were fairly close with PSC outrebounding the Wildcats 27-25.  CSC committed seven turnovers compared to nine for the Bobcats.  The 'Cats did block six shots in the first half with Simmons getting three of those, a career-high.
 
Second Half Action
 
Culver-Stockton scored the first points of the second half on free throws giving them an early seven-point cushion.  The Wildcats stretched it to 31-22 before Simmons connected on a bucket and later Ward put in another two making it 31-26 with 16:13 remaining in the game.
 
CSC hit two free throws, but Potter quickly countered with her first three of the game making it 33-29.  Another bucket by the Wildcats gave them a six-point lead with just over 15 minutes to go.
 
The Wildcats scored the next four points to take a ten-point lead at 39-29 with 13:32 left in the half forcing the 'Cats to take a timeout.  It took over two minutes before either team would score again before Potter got PSC back within eight on a jumper at the 11:27 mark.  A three-pointer by the Wildcats put CSC up by 11, 42-31 with 10:34 left.
 
A three by Young cut it back to eight with 9:28 left which was followed by a quick bucket by CSC to maintain the ten-point margin at 44-34 with just nine minutes to go.
 
Young then made two free throws and then stole the ball from Culver-Stockton and hit a three cutting it to five points at 44-39 with 8:38 left. 
 
A missed Wildcat jumper was rebounded who got the ball to Natasha Moss (Indianapolis, Ind.) who hit a jumper to cut it to three.  However, the Wildcats countered with a bucket of their own to make it 46-41 with just less than seven minutes to go.
 
Fouling a foul on the Wildcats, Allington scored a quick bucket to cut it to three, but CSC went down the floor and quickly made it a five-point lead at the 6:04 mark, 48-43. 
 
With just over five minutes to go, Tate drew a foul and hit the first making it 48-44.  The Wildcats came back with a three giving CSC a seven-point cushion with less than five minutes to go, 51-44.  A Bobcat foul put CSC at the line where the Wildcats hit both, stretching their lead to nine at 53-44 with 4:35 remaining. 
 
Two free throws by Tate cut it to seven.   The Wildcats missed two free throws and after grabbing the defensive rebound, Ward was able to put in a jumper on an assist by Young making it 53-48 with 3:00 left.  The teams traded missed shots, but CSC then hit a big bucket to go back up by seven, 56-48, at 2:25.
 
Another bucket by Ward, her 17^th and 18^th points of the game, got it back to five.  The Wildcats would not fade as they hit another bucket.  The next time down the floor, Ward got another bucket on an assist by Tate, and again, it was just a five-point lead for CSC at 57-52 with 1:34 left in the contest. 
 
On a turnover by CSC, Tate hit a bucket cutting into the CSC lead at 57-54.  The Bobcats committed a foul on CSC's possession and the Wildcats hit both charity tries.
 
Peru State came quickly down the court with Ward hitting another jumper and was fouled on the play.  Ward made the free throw making it 59-57 with 1:12 left.
 
Two more free throws by CSC put them up 61-57.  A defensive rebound by the Wildcats was followed by a PSC foul.  CSC made the first to go up 62-57.  CSC grabbed the missed free throw and were immediately fouled.  Both free throws were hit giving the Wildcats a 64-57 lead with just 1:01 left.
 
Following a Bobcat timeout, Young hit a three-pointer on a good pass by Tate making it 64-60.  With 30 ticks left, CSC was fouled and made both giving them a 66-60 lead.  
 
On the final Bobcat possession, PSC had several attempts at the hoop, but none fell.  Peru State had to foul and CSC drained both giving them a 68-60 victory.
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot a little better in the second half with PSC actually finishing with 30.4% field goal shooting, better than CSC's 28.4% mark as the Wildcats made 19 of 67.  The shooting from behind the arc was similar as PSC made four of 18 for 22.2% as Culver-Stockton made five of 22 for 22.7%.  The Wildcats made 11 more trips to the charity stripe hitting 25 of 32 for 78.1% while Peru State finishing hitting 14 of 21 for 66.7%.
 
The Bobcats grabbed four more caroms than their opponents, 53 to 49.  Peru State continued swatting field goals in the second half finishing with nine blocked shots compared to two for CSC.  The biggest problem in the game for PSC was turnovers as they committed 20 with the Wildcats having only 14.
 
GAME BOX SCORE

Individual Statistics
 
All eight Bobcat players finished in the scoring column and were led by Ward.
 
Ward finished with her third double-double in a row with 23 points and 12 rebounds.    After playing with three fouls for a good portion of the first half and only committing one more in the second half, Ward swatted away five Wildcat attempts, her best mark of the season.  For her career, Ward is just one shy of 100 blocked shots, and is only four away of moving into the second spot all-time for PSC women.
 
Young was the only other Bobcat in double figures as she, too, finished with a double-double.  Young had 13 points and 12 boards, adding three assists and two steals for the game.
 
Potter finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will have ten days off before playing their next game following finals week.  Two tournaments will be facing the Bobcats before they once again face a HAAC opponent. 
 
On Dec. 20 and 21, PSC will be playing in the Daytona Beach Shootout in Daytona Beach, Fla.  On the 20^th, Peru State will face Shawnee State University (Ohio) and the next day will play Saint Thomas University.  Shawnee State is 10-2 with wins over two previously-ranked teams, including a recent 93-77 victory over #11 Olivet Nazarene University. 
 
Another short break will then find Peru State traveling to Columbia, Mo., to participate in the Columbia College Classic.  On Dec. 30, PSC will face the tourney hosts and then on New Year's Eve, PSC will take on William Woods University.