(Peru, Neb.) – After playing probably what was one of their best games of the year, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team is still looking for that elusive first win.  The visiting Avila University Eagles defeated the Bobcats 88-71 in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate.
 
With the win, Avila improves to 11-7 overall and 5-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  Peru State is 0-19 and 0-7 following the tough loss.  Avila most likely will remain in a tie for second in the HAAC and one game back of league-leading MidAmerica Nazarene who are 6-1 following their win today.
 
First Half Game Action
 
The Bobcats scored the initial bucket of the game as Jasmine Lockwood (Sunrise, Fla.) pulled down a missed PSC shot and put it back in on the opening possession. 
 
Avila went on a 7-0 run before Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) put in a bucket on the assist from Lockwood making it 7-4 with 17:43 left in the first half.  Following a turnover by Avila, Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) cut the lead to 7-6 on a fast break. 
 
The Eagles had another 4-0 run making it 11-6 before Lockwood put in a bucket off the assist from Tate cutting the lead to 11-8.  After turnovers by both teams and missed free throws by Avila, Katie Potter (Omaha) got the 'Cats back within one at 11-10 with 15:24 left in the first stanza. 
 
The teams traded several possessions before Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) gave the Bobcats their second lead of the game at 12-11 with 13:35 remaining in the first 20 minutes.  The Bobcats extended the lead to 15-11 with a Potter bucket and then later when she hit one of two free throws.
 
 A 6-0 run by Avila gave them a 17-11 margin with just under ten minutes to go in the half.  A bucket by Ward on the assist from Lockwood knotted it at 17-17 with 9:21 to go. 
 
Avila regained the lead on the next possessions and extended it to 31-21 with just over five minutes to go in the half before Karlee Stuart (McClave, Colo.) cut it to 31-23.
 
The Bobcats had a 10-4 run to close out the half and had a shot at tying it with the shot just rimming off to end the half with the Eagles leading 35-33.

 Second Half Game Action
 
The second half was very similar to the first as the teams battled back and forth through the first ten minutes.   Peru State scored on the first possession as Stuart hit a jumper in the paint to knot it up at 35-35.  The teams traded buckets and it was still tied at 39 until an Eagle hit another three to go up 42-39. 
 
Ward made a bucket to get back within one at 42-41 with just under 15 minutes left in the game.  PSC eventually had it tied at 49-49 at the 10:01 mark before Avila went on a 9-0 run to go up 58-49.  Potter fed the ball to Ward who put it in to stop the run making it 58-51 Avila with 7:21 left in the game. 
 
Ward halted a 4-0 Eagle run with another bucket.  However, two possessions later, Ward fouled out of the game, putting the Bobcats' leading scorer on the bench with PSC trailing 62-53 with just under six minutes left in the game.
 
The rest of the game saw the teams trading scores and making numerous trips to the line as both teams ended up in the double bonus.  Over the last six minutes, Avila outscored Peru State 26-18.

 Team Statistics
 
Avila outshot the Bobcats in all shooting categories with the biggest difference coming from the free throw line.  The Eagles made 44 trips to the charity stripe and sunk 33 for 75% while PSC was 14 of 26 for 53.85%.  From the field, Avila was 24 of 50 for 48% with the Bobcats making 27 of 69 for 39.1%.  The Eagles were good from behind the arc as well as they canned seven of 19 for 36.8% while the Bobcats still struggled from three-point range making three of 18 for 16.7%.
 
The rest of the stats were fairly even with the exception of blocked shots as PSC was not able to manage to get a block, but Avila had five.  Rebounding was in favor of the Eagles, but just by one 42-41.  PSC had one less turnover than the Eagles, committing 20 while Avila had 21.

GAME BOX SCORE

Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures with Ward and Stuart both finishing with 16 and Tate adding ten.  Lockwood and Potter each added nine points.
 
Lockwood was the team's leading rebounding pulling down 11 boards with Ward finished the game with eight.  Potter and Amelia Allington (Ashland) each grabbed seven.  Lockwood had a team-high four assists with Tate dishing out three.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will be traveling to Lamoni, Iowa, on Thursday, Jan. 19, to take on the Graceland University YellowJackets with the game starting at 5:30 p.m.  Then, on Saturday, the 'Cats will be playing at home against the Evangel University Crusaders beginning at 2 p.m.  During the halftime of the women's game, the Bobcat cheerleaders' youth campers will be performing for the entertainment of the crowd.
 
That following Thursday, PSC will be at home hosting the league leaders, MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers.  Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
All Bobcat games can be heard live on KNCY 103.1 Country Radio.  Bobcat fans can now listen to Bobcat basketball on their mobile devices by clicking on the Live Audio link on either the women or men's schedules at pscbobcats.com.  This is not an app, but rather a link through the internet.  In addition, all home games are now available via Livestream that can be accessed by linking to the Live Audio button on the same schedule.