The teams traded free throws and it was 28-22 with less than five minutes to go.
hit a bucket on the assist from Potter putting PSC up 30-22 with just under three minutes left in the first stanza. A turnover on MVC led to Tate hitting two free throws as she was fouled giving PSC the biggest lead of ten at 32-22 at the 2:05 mark.
Potter stole the ball from MVC on their next possession and got it ahead to Stuart. Stuart took it down the court for the lay-up giving PSC a 12-point lead. MVC would come down and get two making it 34-24, but Ward would get a bucket to put PSC back up by 12 with 36 seconds left.
An old-fashioned three-point play by MVC ended the first half with the Bobcats leading 36-27.
Peru State came out of the halftime and put up the first four points on hoops by Ward and Potter giving the 'Cats a 13-point lead at 40-27 in the opening minute.
A 10-2 run by the Vikings put MVC down by only five with 13:31 left in the game, trailing 42-37. PSC then got back-to-back buckets by Stuart and Tate putting the 'Cats back up by nine at 46-37 forcing a Viking timeout.
Peru State forced a Viking turnover which resulted in two free throws by Moss giving PSC a 48-37 lead. Following two misses at the free throw line by the Vikings, they grabbed an offensive rebound and immediately hit a trey cutting it to 48-40 at the 11:47 mark. Another bucket by MVC made it 48-42 before Allington grabbed a PSC offensive rebound, went to the hoop, and was fouled. Allington sunk both making it 50-42 Bobcats with 10:40 left.
Two more free throws by MVC cut the lead to six at 50-44 on the next possession. Tate made it an eight-point lead again at 52-44 as she drove the lane for the bucket.
MVC hit two free throws that was followed by a PSC bucket by Moss keeping it at an eight-point lead at 54-46 before the Vikings hit a trey cutting it to five at 54-49 with just under ten minutes left in the game.
After the 'Cats missed free throws, MVC came back with a bucket getting the Vikings within three at 54-51 with 8:14 remaining forcing PSC to take a timeout. With an offensive rebound, Ward put it back up and made it 56-51. The bucket gave Ward a double-double at that point in the game.
After several minutes of no scoring, Ward went to the bucket, hit it, was fouled, but missed the free throw, making it 58-53 PSC with just over four minutes to go.
Following an injury-timeout for a Viking player, MVC came down the court and hit a two cutting it to 58-55 with just over three minutes to go.
With 93 seconds left, Moss hit a jumper giving PSC a five-point lead at 60-55. Both teams missed several shots before Moss grabbed a rebound and got it to Potter who was fouled with 29.9 seconds left. Potter missed the front end of the one-and-one, but Moss grabbed the rebound and she was immediately fouled. Moss made the front end, but missed the second, putting PSC on top 61-55.
The Vikings took the ball down the court quickly and hit a bucket cutting it to 61-57. Ward was fouled on the inbound pass and she hit the first, missing the second, making it PSC 62-57. A Bobcat foul put MVC at the line and they hit both cutting it to a three-point deficit at 62-59 with 12.4 left.
Ward was fouled on the inbound pass and she converted both making it 64-59 which ended up being the final score of the game.
Team Statistics
Both teams had similar shooting statistics. Peru State hit 38.7% of their field goal tries making 24 of 62. From behind the arc, the 'Cats managed only two of ten tries for 20%. At the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 14 of 25 trips to the line for 56%.
Missouri Valley was 19 of 56 for 33.9% from the floor, including four of 18 treys for 22.2%. The Vikings were a little better at the free throw line than PSC canning 17 of 28 for 60.7%.
The Vikings did outrebound PSC 41-37. MVC committed 25 turnovers compared to 16 for the Bobcats.
GAME BOX SCORE
Individual Statistics
Ward led all scorers and rebounders with 15 points and 16 rebounds for her double-double. Ward was six of nine from the floor and three of five at the line. Also, Ward had three steals (another team-high) and two assists.
Three other Bobcats were in double figures. Potter and Moss each had 11 while Stuart finished with ten. Potter added a team-high three assists.
Upcoming Games
Four games are currently left on the Bobcat schedule. Most likely to get into the HAAC post-season tourney, PSC will need to win at least three of four remaining games.
Next Thursday, Feb. 16, the Bobcats will host the Benedictine College Ravens starting at 5:30 p.m. The following Saturday, Feb. 18, PSC will travel to Kansas City, Mo., to face Avila University at 2 p.m.
The following week, the 'Cats will face Graceland University at home on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. The final regular season game for the Bobcats will be on the road when they travel to Springfield, Mo., on Saturday, Feb. 25, to play Evangel University.
All Bobcat games can be heard live on KNCY Country Radio 103.1 by linking to the PSC schedule on the athletic website at pscbobcats.com. In addition, for home games, Livestream is available for those who cannot attend the game.