(Peru, Neb.) – The Central Methodist University (CMU) Eagles women's basketball team built an 11-point advantage by halftime and it was too much for the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women to make up in the second half. 
 
The Eagles ended up winning the game played on their home court by a score of 65-58.  With the win, CMU improved to 9-1 overall and 1-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  Peru State suffered its fifth straight loss overall to fall to 3-6 and is now 0-2 in the HAAC.
 
Game Action
 
After the Eagles took a 2-0 lead on a pair of free throws, Aduago Osuala (Lakewood, Colo.) hit a shot on the assist from Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) to knot the game up at 2-2.  A trey by the Eagles put them back on top 5-2 before the 'Cats went on an 8-0 run.  
Osuala, on another assist from Stuart, made it 5-4 and then Osuala provided an assist to Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) to give PSC their first lead at 6-5.  Off a steal and assist from Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.), Osuala scored her fifth and sixth points of the game and PSC was on top 8-5 with 16:52 remaining in the first half.  Another assist by Stuart, this time to Lauren Andrews (Omaha) made it 10-5 PSC just 30 seconds later.
 
A three-pointer and another bucket allowed CMU to tie it at 10-10, which was then followed by another Eagles' trey, giving them a 13-10 lead with 12:49 remaining.  The teams traded hoops until CMU went up 25-17 with 5:03 left in the first stanza. 
 
The Eagles would have an 11-point lead at 30-19 with 3:23 left and maintained it through the remaining part of the first half.
 
In the second half, PSC would get within three at 38-35 on a bucket by Jasmine Lockwood (Sunrise, Fla.) on an assist from Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) with 15:58 to go in the game.  CMU would go back up by as many as eight before the 'Cats would chip away to come back within two at 49-47 on a three-pointer by Stuart on an assist from Ayana Smith (Colorado Springs) with 9:29 to go.
 
With 5:49 remaining, Andrews made the first of two free throws to tie it at 53-53 and then gave PSC the lead when hit the second charity toss. 
 
It would be almost two minutes before either team would score, but CMU hit a three-pointer to regain the lead for good at 56-54 and went on to win 65-58.
 
Game Statistics
 
The Eagles outshot the Bobcats in all categories with their three-point shooting and free throw shooting being the biggest factor.  The Eagles were 40.8% from the field that included going eight of 17 from behind the arc for 47.1%.  At the charity stripe, CMU made 17 of 21 free throws for an exceptional 81%.
 
On the other side, Peru State made 25 of 75 field goal tries for 33.3%.  From behind the arc, PSC made only two of eight for 25%.  The 'Cats continued to struggle from the free throw line making six of ten for 60%.
 
Peru State did outrebound the Eagles 45-40.  The Bobcats did force the Eagles into making 27 turnovers, but could not convert those into points.  PSC had 19 miscues of their own.  
Individual Statistics
 
Osuala and Andrews finished in double figures for Peru State.  Osuala finished with a career-high 22 points and added 11 rebounds, also, a career-high.  In addition, Osuala had game highs with six assists and four steals.
 
Andrews finished with 12 points and two rebounds.  Ward added a game-high 13 rebounds, but managed only four points as she got off only six shots.  For Ward, the 13 caroms put her on top of the Bobcat all-time leading rebounding list as she now has 969 rebounds.  Lora (White) Gulley, a PSC Hall of Fame member, had the prior mark of 967 while playing from 1991-94.

CMU BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will step out of conference on Monday, Dec. 3, when they host Rogers State University from Claremore, Okla.  Rogers State comes into the game with a 7-2 record.  Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
Then, the 'Cats have a little break as they do not play again until Saturday, Dec. 8, when they host Culver-Stockton College from Canton, Mo.  Presently, the Wildcat women are 4-4 and 0-2 in the HAAC.  They will play a non-conference game on the sixth before heading to Peru State. 
 
Following the game on Dec. 8, Peru State will take a week off for finals, but then will travel to play the University of South Dakota, an NCAA DI team, on Dec. 15, at 5 p.m.