(Peru, Neb.) – Several things had to happen for the Bobcat women's basketball team in order to play in post-season action.  Nothing happened as it needed to on Saturday for Peru State.
 
First, Graceland University won, a team which Peru State College (PSC) needed to lose.  Second, the Bobcats fell at Evangel by the score 75-59.  With the loss, the 2011-12 season was over for the 'Cats.
 
With the win, the Evangel University (EU) improved to 10-17 overall and 8-10 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  The Crusaders will be the fifth seed in the post-season tournament and will travel to Benedictine for its first-round action.
 
For Peru State, they finished the season with a 5-25 record and 5-13 in the HAAC, finishing ninth, just one game out of post-season play.
 
Game Action
 
The Bobcats took a 4-0 lead on two buckets by Katie Potter (Omaha).  Following a hoop by Evangel, Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) hit two free throws putting PSC back to a four-point lead at 6-2. 
 
The 'Cats went out to a 13-8 lead on a field goal by Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) with 10:35 left in the first half.  Evangel came back to get within one at 18-17 before Ward hit another bucket to give PSC a three-point cushion at 20-17.  Free throws by Sydney Young (Omaha) again gave the Bobcats a five-point lead at 22-17 with just over five minutes left in the half.
 
A 6-0 Evangel run gave the Crusaders their first lead of the game at 23-22 at the 2:23 mark in the first stanza.  On the next possession, Tate was fouled, made both, and PSC regained the lead at 24-23. The Crusaders got a bucket, but before the half ended, Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) made one free throw.  The teams were tied at 25-25 at halftime.
 
Evangel scored the first ten of the second half before Potter finally got the 'Cats on the board in the second half on an assist from Moss.  Another Potter bucket made it 35-29 Evangel, but that would be as close as PSC would get to the post-season as the Crusaders outscored the 'Cats 40-30 over the rest of the game.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Crusaders made 24 of 56 field goals for 42.9%, which included three of 16 shooting from behind the arc for 18.8%.  Evangel was very good at the free-throw line making 24 of 31 attempts for 77.4%.
 
Peru State hit 36.5% of their field goal tries as they canned 19 of 52 attempts.  From three-point range, PSC was three of 11 for 27.3%.  At the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 18 of 29 for 62.1%.
 
Evangel out-rebounded Peru State 44-29.  Both teams committed too many turnovers as PSC had 21 and the Crusaders had 23.

GAME BOX SCORE
 
Individual Statistics
 
Potter and Tate led the Bobcats with 22 and 15 points respectively.  Potter was ten of 18 from the field, including two of seven from behind the arc.  Tate added three steals and three assists. 
 
Moss was the team's leading rebounder as she tied for game-high honors with nine.