(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing by 11 at halftime, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team came back to make it interesting in the final minutes of the game, but did not prevail.  The visiting Central Methodist University (CMU) Eagles held off the late charge by Peru State to win 80-76.
 
With their second win in a row, CMU improves to 3-6 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  With the loss, the 'Cats fall to 0-2 in the HAAC and 0-10 for the year.
 
First Half Action
 
The Bobcats scored the first bucket of the game on a second chance shot by Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) on the assist from Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.).  Peru State scored the next seven points taking a 9-0 lead with 17:28 left in the half.  CMU went on a 4-0 run cutting it to 9-4 in less than a minute following the PSC run.  PSC got a free throw making it 10-4 before the Eagles went on another 6-0 run to tie the game at 10-10 at the 14:41 mark.


 
The game was tied at 13-13 and 17-17 with just over ten minutes to go in the first stanza.  PSC would come back to take the lead at 19-17, but the Eagles went ahead 20-19 and led throughout the rest of the first period.  At the end of the first 20 minutes, CMU led 44-33.
 
CMU's Sami Dunger was hot from behind the arc in the first half making five of nine attempts and led all scorers with 17 points in the first stanza.  As a team, CMU hit 42.9% of their shots in the first half making 15 of 35 from the floor.  Outside of Dunger, the Eagles only managed one of nine shots from three-point range with the team hitting six of 18 for 33.3%.  At the charity stripe, CMU was eight of 12 for 66.7%.
 
PSC only shot better from the line than CMU making ten of 14 free throws for 71.4%.  From the field, the 'Cats made ten of 32 for 31.3% and managed only three of 13 from behind the arc for 23.1%.
 
The Eagles grabbed 25 rebounds compared to PSC's 18.  CMU did commit two more turnovers in the half than the Bobcats as they had ten miscues with PSC having eight.  Fouls plagued PSC as they finished the first 20 minutes with five players having two or more fouls.
 
Second Half Action
 
The Bobcats scored the first bucket of the second half to cut it to single digits, but CMU answered with one of their own making it 49-38.  The Eagles went on a 10-5 run to give them a 16-point cushion at 59-43, before PSC slowly started to cut into the lead.  With just over six minutes to go, PSC trailed 71-63.


 
PSC did make it interesting in the last six minutes as they found the range from behind the arc and slowly kept cutting into the Eagles' lead.  With 37 seconds left in the game, Katie Potter (Omaha) hit a three to make it a 77-76 CMU.  CMU hit two three throws making it 79-76.  Two desperation three pointers failed, but a foul on a Bobcat gave PSC the opportunity to cut it one at the charity stripe, but both foul attempts were missed.  Peru State was forced to foul and CMU cashed in the first try and missed the second giving them a four-point cushion.  A last-second three pointer rimmed out and the Eagles won 80-76.
 
Game Statistics
 
Free throw shooting made the difference in the game as the field goals, both from the floor and from behind the arc, were dead even.  At the line, CMU made 19 of 27 tries for 70.4%.  PSC hit 15 of 25 for 60%.  From the field, both teams made 26 field goals and nine three-pointers.  CMU had a slightly better percentage making 26 of 61 for 42.6% while PSC was 26 of 65 for 40%.  Both teams hit nine of 28 from three-point range for 32.1%.
 
The Bobcats did control the boards in the second half finishing with one more than CMU at 38-37.  CMU committed 22 turnovers compared to PSC's 20.  The 'Cats had two blocked shots while CMU did not stop a PSC try.  Steals were nearly even with the Eagles grabbing nine compared to PSC's eight.

Game Box Score
 
Individual Statistics
 
It was the most-balanced performance by the Bobcats of the season as four players finished in double figures.  Sydney Young (Omaha) finished with 19 points leading PSC making seven of 15 field goals, including three of nine from behind the arc.  Young added two of six free throws, grabbed four rebounds, and had two steals.


 
Also, in double figures were Amelia Allington (Ashland), Ward, and Potter.  Allington had 17 points, six rebounds, and one assist.  Ward had her second straight double-double finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.  Ward added three steals, two assists, and one block.  Having probably her best performance of the season, Potter finished with ten points, including two key three-pointers.  Potter added five rebounds and one assist.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will have some time off before playing their next game on Saturday, Dec. 10.  The Bobcats will travel to Canton, Mo., to play the Culver-Stockton Wildcats.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. and can be heard on KNCY 103.1 radio by linking to Live Audio on the team's schedule on the website.