(Peru, Neb.) – After a very sluggish first half which found the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women down by six, the 'Cats responded in the second half to nab their fourth Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) win.
Peru State defeated the visiting Graceland University YellowJackets 72-61 in action on Thursday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC). With the win, the Bobcats improved to 9-11 overall and evened their record at 4-4 in the HAAC. The second-straight HAAC win moved PSC into fifth place in the ten-team league with one game left in the first half of the season.
The struggling YellowJackets are now 0-8 in the HAAC and 2-14 overall. Graceland is on the bottom of the conference at this time.
Game Action
The game was tight through the first six-plus minutes with the teams being tied at 9-9 at the 13:36 mark in the first half. Graceland then went on a 6-0 run before the Bobcats eventually tied it up at 17-17 on a
Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) basket with an assist coming from
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.).
Three more ties occurred in the first 20 minutes before the YellowJackets took a 34-29 lead. However, Ward hit two free throws with four seconds left to make it 34-31 going into the break.
Graceland hit the first bucket of the second half to again lead by five before the 'Cats rallied to force the tenth tie of the game at 36-36.
Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) forced the tie with a driving bucket in the lane and then hit her charity try to knot it.
PSC then had a 6-0 run of their own with a free throw by
Natasha Moss (Indianapolis), a three-pointer by
Adaugo Osuala (Lakewood, Colo.), and another bucket by Ward to lead 42-36 with 16:30 remaining in the game.
The YellowJackets were not done as they tied it at 45-45 with 14 minutes left in the second stanza. PSC then had an 11-2 run and led 56-47 and appeared to be in control with just over ten minutes left. Another furious Graceland run saw the 'Jackets hold Peru State scoreless and tying it at 56-56 with 6:25 to go.
A basket by Ward and then one by Tate gave PSC the lead for good as the 'Cats went on a 16-5 run to finish the game and grabbed their fourth HAAC win of the season.
Team Statistics
The field goal shooting was almost identical for the teams as PSC made 34.6% of their field goals while Graceland hit 34.5%. Neither team shot well from behind the arc as the YellowJackets made two of 11 for 18.2% while the 'Cats made only one of five for 20%. Graceland did shoot better from the charity stripe making 19 of 26 for 73.1%, compared to the Bobcats' 17 of 31 for 54.8%.
Peru State led in rebounding grabbing 45 caroms while the YellowJackets had 41. The 'Cats forced 27 Graceland turnovers while PSC only committed 12.
Individual Statistics
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Ward with 20 points on nine of 13 shooting from the floor. Ward made both free throws and finished the game with 12 rebounds, giving her the 14
th double double of the season.
Osuala added 19 points, six rebounds, and a game-high six steals. Tate contributed 12 points and had a game-high six assists. Moss finished with ten points and four rebounds.
GRACELAND BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
On Saturday, Peru State will be in Springfield, Mo., to take on the Lady Crusaders of Evangel University. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Evangel is presently 3-4 in the HAAC and 4-9 overall.
Next Thursday, the 'Cats are on the road again as they will play the MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers in Olathe, Kan. The Bobcats and Pioneers are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers are tied for first in the HAAC with a 7-1 record and are 17-2 overall. This game starts the second half of the conference season for both teams.
On Saturday, Jan. 26, PSC will be back home to host the Central Methodist University Eagles at 2 p.m. in the AWAC. The Eagles are currently 6-2 in the HAAC, good for the third spot, and are 17-2 overall. The Foundation's Alumni Chili Feed will be held on the 26
th with the serving to begin at approximately 2:30 p.m.
