(Peru, Neb.) – While the weather outside was a little cooler, Peru State's women's basketball team found their shooting to be pretty cool against the home-standing Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday. The Fighting Indians defeated the Bobcats 65-55 as Peru State managed to make only 28.7% of their field goals, including just one three-point attempt.

With the loss, Peru State fell to 2-7 overall on the season in the non-conference game. Haskell improved to 3-10.

Game Action

The Fighting Indians led the entire game as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 19:09 left in the first half. Two minutes later, Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) hit a bucket in the paint to put the Bobcats on the board, trailing 3-2.

Haskell would go on a 25-9 run to have its largest lead in the first half at 28-11 with 7:32 remaining. Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) would hit a free throw to stop the Peru State drought and Madrid made another two-pointer in the paint to cut it to 28-14 with 6:47 to go in the first 20 minutes.

Peru State would cut the lead to ten at 37-27 when Sydney Young (Omaha) hit a bucket with 27 seconds left. But, the Fighting Indians nailed a two-pointer with four seconds left to make it 39-27 at halftime.

The Fighting Indians scored the first four points of the second half before Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) made a pair of free throws to make it 43-29 with 17:51 remaining in the game.

Haskell would lead by 17 a couple of times in the second half and Peru State would keep trying to get it down to a single-digit deficit, but never could as the game concluded with the Fighting Indians winning 65-55.

Team Statistics

Peru State made the same number of field goals as Haskell (23), but took 16 more shots, hitting 23 of 80 field goal attempts for 28.7% shooting. Haskell was 23 of 64 for 35.9%, including making 5 of 14 three-point tries for 35.7%. The Bobcats connected only one time from behind the arc, going 1 of 16 for 6.2%. At the charity stripe, Haskell was 14 of 19 for 73.6% while the 'Cats were 8 of 18 for 44.4%.

Rebounding was pretty close as the Fighting Indians grabbed 53 caroms compared to Peru State's 50. Both teams struggled on the floor as Haskell had 32 turnovers and Peru State finished with 28 miscues.

Individual Statistics

Two Bobcats finished in double figures as Hess had 14 points and Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) added 12. Tate and Madrid each added eight points.

Peterson finished with a double double as she grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Peru State. Hess and Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) each had eight boards.

Tate led Peru State with four assists while Stuart, Young, and Peterson each dished out two.

HASKELL BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

Peru State will play one more non-conference game before the holiday break. On Tuesday, they will travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on the Morningside University Mustangs. Currently, Morningside is 10-3 with all three of their losses coming in Great Plains Athletic Conference. Presently, the Mustangs are on a four-game winning streak.