(Peru, Neb.) – After falling behind by 16 at halftime, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team closed within four at 50-46, but dropped their contest with the visiting Benedictine College Ravens on Thursday night.  The final score was 59-46 as the Ravens pulled away in the final two minutes.
 
With the win, the Ravens improved to 14-3 overall and 4-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).  The 'Cats fell to 7-11 overall and 2-4 in the HAAC.
 
Game Action
 
The Bobcats played another game with just six available players and played close for the first ten minutes being down just 12-8 at that point.  However, the Ravens finished with final ten minutes of the first half by outscoring Peru State 24-12 and took a 36-20 lead into the break.
 
At the start of the second half, PSC started to chip away at the lead with two buckets by Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) on assists from Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Jasmine Lockwood (Sunrise, Fla.).  Lockwood then hit one of two free throws, which was followed by two free throws by Tate to get PSC back within single digits at 36-27 with 17:21 left in the game.
 
By the 11:22 mark, the Ravens had stretched the lead back to 12 at 43-31.  During the next nine minutes, Peru State outscored Benedictine 15-3 to get within four at 50-46 with 2:28 left, before the Ravens pulled away for the double-digit win.
 
Team Statistics
 
Neither team shot particularly well from the floor as PSC hit 30.2 percent of their field goals while Benedictine made 30 percent of their attempts.  The Ravens made five of 21 three-point attempts for 23.8 percent while the 'Cats only made one of four for 25 percent.  Both teams did shoot well from the charity stripe as Benedictine made 12 of 15 shots for 80 percent while the 'Cats hits seven of nine for 77.8 percent.
 
Peru State outrebounded the Ravens 40 to 37, but Benedictine had fewer turnovers, 14, compared to PSC's 17.  The 'Cats did block eight shots while the Ravens swatted away two PSC tries.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished with 11 points in the loss.  Moss, Rachel Blair (Hubbard), and Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) led PSC while Lockwood added seven points.  Tate finished with four points and Ayana Smith (Colorado Springs) had two.  For Blair, it was a career-high scoring night.
 
Ward was the game's leading rebounder with 12, so she finished with her 12^th double double of the season.  In addition, Ward blocked five shots.  Lockwood and Tate each grabbed eight rebounds with Smith adding three steals.

BENEDICTINE BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The 'Cats are scheduled to travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday to face the Avila University Eagles.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Next week, PSC will host Graceland University on Thursday, Jan. 17, with the game beginning at 5:30 p.m.  On Saturday, Jan. 19, Peru State will travel to Springfield, Mo., to take on Evangel University with the game scheduled to start at 2 p.m.