(Peru, Neb.) – A strong defensive effort led to an offensive explosion for the Peru State women's basketball team as they soundly defeated the Grace University Royals 89-21 Tuesday night.
It was the first win of the season for the Bobcats against two losses and was the first collegiate basketball coaching win for head coach
Joan Albury. The Royals fell to 0-7 on the season with the loss.
Game Highlights
Peru State jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game and never looked back. Baskets by
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) and
MaKayla Gardner (Dickens) made it 4-0 before
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix, Ariz.) completed an old-fashioned three-point play. A basket by
Sydney Young (Omaha) topped off the 9-0 run before the Royals managed to score three points.
The six-point deficit at 9-3 was only matched at 11-5 as that was the closest the Royals would be the rest of the game. The Bobcats led 23-7 after another Hess bucket at 8:52 in the first half. With 4:30 left in the half, Peru State went up by 23 at 30-9 after
Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) hit a field goal on an assist by Hess.
The largest lead of the first half was 38-11 after Gardner hit a bucket on an assist from
Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) with 1:34 left in the first 20 minutes. At halftime, the 'Cats led 38-13.
The Bobcats scored the first 25 points of the second half before the Royals would score at the 9:57 mark, making it 63-15. Grace would make the next bucket, but the 48-point deficit was a close as the Royals would be in the second half. Peru State went on to score another 26 points while Grace managed only four more points.
Team Statistics
The Bobcats took 100 shots in the game and hit 38 for 38%. The second half shooting was much better for Peru State as they were 21 of 48 for 43.8%. From behind the arc, the 'Cats were 5 of 23 for 21.7%. Grace hit only 9 of 49 attempts for 18.4% and did not make any of their ten three-point attempts. From the free throw line, Peru State made 8 of 13 for 61.5% while Grace made just 3 of 8 for 37.5%.
Peru State grabbed 69 rebounds in the contest, just one short of the single-game record set back in the 1999-2000 season when the Bobcats had 70 caroms. The Royals finished with 40 rebounds on the night. The 'Cats committed only seven turnovers while forcing 23 Grace errors. Peru State swiped 13 steals, had 13 assists, and blocked two shots.
Individual Statistics
All ten of the Bobcat players suited up scored with five of them finishing in double figures. Hess led all scorers with 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting. Young and Stuart finished with 12 and 11 respectively while Peterson and
Heather Brekke (Sunrise, Fla.) each added ten points.
Stuart and Young finished with double doubles as Stuart grabbed a game- and career-high 16 rebounds while Young added a season-high 12 boards which matched her previous career high set in the 2011-12 season. Gardner finished with ten rebounds and nine points.
Tate and Brekke each dished out three assists while Hess and Stuart each had two. Stuart and Gardner were each credited with a blocked shot. Young had four steals while Hess added three.
GRACE BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
Peru State will have two more games this week. On Thursday, the Bobcats will travel to Parkville, Mo., to face the Pirates of Park University with the game starting at 6 p.m. Currently, Park is 1-3 having lost last night at MidAmerica Nazarene University 86-68.
Then, on Sunday, the Bobcats will host St. Ambrose University with the game starting at 2 p.m. The Bees lost their last game 98-81 to fall to 3-1, but will have two more contests before taking on the 'Cats on Sunday.
Peru State will take a week off before traveling to Davenport, Iowa, to face the Bees on their home court on the following Sunday at 2 p.m.
