(Peru, Neb.) – The final score was not indicative of how tight the basketball game between the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women and the Columbia College Lady Cougars Tuesday night in Columbia, Mo.
While the Lady Cougars eventually won 85-73, Peru State was within one at 64-63 with 6:34 remaining in the game. After that point, Columbia pulled away for the 12-point win, which gave the Lady Cougars their fifth win of the year against five losses.
Peru State fell to 4-9 overall for the first part of the season with the non-conference loss to Columbia.
Game Action
The first half was tight throughout with the game being tied five different times and the two teams exchanging the leads twice. Columbia had the largest lead at six late in the half before ending up with a 33-28 lead at halftime.
The Lady Cougars scored first after making one of their free throws. At the 17:34 mark in the first half,
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) hit a bucket in the paint on the assist from
Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) to take PSC's first lead at 2-1.
Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) grabbed an offensive rebound on PSC's next possession and put it back in to give the 'Cats a 4-1 lead with 16:23 left in the half. Columbia responded with a bucket of their own before
Adaugo Osuala (Lakewood, Colo.) hit a bucket off the steal by
Natasha Moss (Indianapolis), giving PSC a 6-3 advantage.
Following another Lady Cougar hoop, Ward put the 'Cats back up by three on an assist from
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.). With 13:33 left in the first half, PSC led 8-5.
A 6-0 run by Columbia gave the Lady Cougars an 11-8 advantage and they would not relinquish the lead until 6:10 remained in the half as Osuala gave PSC a 21-19 lead with a bucket after she had stolen the ball.
Over the course of the remaining six minutes, the Lady Cougars outscored PSC 14-6 to take a 33-28 halftime lead.
Early in the second halftime, Columbia built its lead to ten points at 40-30 with 17:48 left in the game.
The Bobcats would roar back with a 17-6 run, which included a three-pointer by Osuala giving PSC the lead at 47-46 with 14:09 remaining. The Cougars countered with a trey of their own to regain the lead at 49-47 before
Lauren Andrews (Omaha) hit a bucket in the paint to tie it at 49-49.
A Lady Cougar free throw gave them a 50-49 lead with 12:33 left in the game. Columbia never relinquished the lead after that paint, even though PSC got back with one at 64-63 at the 6:20 mark. The Lady Cougars outscored PSC 21-10 in the final six minutes to capture the 85-73 win.
Team Statistics
Field goal shooting for the two teams was nearly identical as PSC made 27 of 64 for 42.2% while Columbia hit 26 of 61 for 42.6%. Neither team was hot from behind the arc as the 'Cats hit two of 12 for 16.7% compared to Columbia making just two of 14 for 14.3%.
The difference in the game came at the free-throw line. Columbia made 31 of 41 for 75.6% while PSC's free throw shooting continued to hurt them as they connected on 17 of 31 tries for 54.8%.
Columbia owned the boards grabbing 52 rebounds compared to Peru State's 39. Both teams turned the ball over too much in the game as PSC had 27 turnovers while the Lady Cougars committed 30 miscues. PSC blocked five shots compared to Columbia's three.
Individual Statistics
The Bobcats had four players in double figures and were led by Osuala, who scored 28 points on 11 of 22 shooting. In addition, Osuala, the NAIA's steals leader, seized seven balls from the Lady Cougars.
Ward finished with a double double as she scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Also finishing in double figures were Andrews with 11 and Stuart with ten.
COLUMBIA BOX SCORE
Ward Record Watch
When Ward grabbed her offensive rebound and scored with 16:23 remaining in the first half, the rebound was her 1,000
th of her career. Ward became the first basketball player ever – male or female to score more than 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. Ward is Peru State's all-time leader in rebounds and is seven points shy of the sixth spot on the all-time scoring list. In addition, Ward is the Bobcats' all-time leader in blocked shots, currently with 150.
Upcoming Games
The Bobcats will take a week off before starting practice again for the second half of the season.
Peru State will host the Fighting Indians of Haskell Indian Nations University of Lawrence, Kan., on New Year's Eve at noon. This is a non-conference match-up of former conference opponents.
Once the new year starts, PSC will jump right into the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) fray as they travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to face Baker University in a game starting at 5:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 5, the 'Cats will be at home hosting Missouri Valley College with the game starting at 2 p.m.
