(Peru, Neb.) – It was the second half woes for the second straight game that doomed the Bobcat women Thursday night.
The home-standing Baker University (BU) Wildcat women outscored Peru State College (PSC) by 19 points in the final 20 minutes to capture an 80-58 victory. PSC had fought back to trail by only three at halftime at 32-29, before falling to the Wildcats.
Baker improves to 6-19 overall and 4-9 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The Bobcats fall to 2-23 and 2-11 in the HAAC.
Game Action
The Wildcats scored the first five points of the game before Katie Potter
(Omaha) hit a bucket in the paint cutting the deficit to 5-2 at the 18:03 mark. Another Bobcat basket by
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) made it 5-4.
Jasmine Lockwood (Sunrise, Fla.) gave PSC their first lead of the game at 6-5, but that was quickly followed up with a Baker hoop, putting BU on top 8-7 with 15:56 left in the first half.
A 7-0 Wildcat run put them on top for good at 14-8 at the 13:19 point. Stuart hit a trey to cut it to 14-11, but Baker then had an 11-0 run to go up 25-11 with 8:18 to go in the first stanza.
Tai'ler Warren
(Omaha) hit a two-pointer to stop the Wildcat run. The teams traded buckets and BU still had a 12-point lead before the Bobcats went on a run to close it to three at the half. A trey by Stuart and an old-fashioned three-point play by
Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) got the Bobcats back within five at 28-23 with just over three minutes left in the half.
Stuart hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to four before Baker hit a bucket, followed by a free throw to go up 31-24. Potter hit a two-pointer and Stuart hit another three which was sandwiched around a Baker hoop giving the Wildcats a 32-29 lead at the break.
A 16-4 run to start the half propelled Baker easily into the lead at 49-33. Peru State did manage to cut it to ten at one point, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would be in the second stanza.
Team Statistics
Baker shot a respectable 48.3% from the floor making 29 of 60 field goals, including nine of 20 from behind the arc for 45%. The Wildcats made 13 of 24 free throws for 54.2%.
The Bobcats were lower in each category as they made 24 of 64 field goals for 37.5% and converted only four of 15 treys for 26.7%. At the line, PSC was six of 13 for 46.2%.
The Wildcats made good at rebounding as they grabbed 43 boards compared to PSC's 25. PSC committed only 17 turnovers while forcing Baker into 22.
GAME BOX SCORE
Individual Statistics
Stuart had a career night as she led all scorers with 20 points going eight of 14 from the field, including being three of seven from behind the arc. Stuart added two rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
Also in double figures for the Bobcats was Moss with 13 as she made six of 12 field goals. Moss added two caroms and one steal.
Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) was PSC's top rebounder with six. Ward added three blocks and two steals before going out with an injury in the second half.
Upcoming Games
The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday as they host the Missouri Valley College Vikings at 2 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC). The Vikings are 10-12 overall and 6-6 in the HAAC following their win on Thursday.
Next Thursday, Feb. 16, the 'Cats will be back in the AWAC as they host the Ravens from Benedictine College. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Then, on Saturday, Feb. 18, PSC will be travelling to Kansas City, Mo., to play the Avila University Eagles with the game scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
