(Peru, Neb.) – It is tough when the opponent shoots 58% in the first half of a game. The Peru State women's basketball team ran into a hot shooting Benedictine College team on Thursday night. The Ravens jumped to a 58-21 lead at halftime and went on to win 88-64.

With the win, the Ravens improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). Peru State fell to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the HAAC.

Game Action

The Ravens scored the first four points of the game before MaKayla Gardner (Dickens) hit a bucket in the point on an assist from Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) with 18:15 in the first half. An old-fashioned three-point play put Benedictine up 7-2 before Hess hit a bucket. Another Raven bucket was countered by a three-pointer from Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) to get Peru State within two at 9-7 with 16:24 remaining in the first half.
That would be as close as Peru State would be in the ball game as the Ravens went on an 18-0 over the course of the next four minutes to lead 27-7 with 12:43 left in the half. A free throw by Hess stopped the run before the Ravens scored the next eight points before Stuart hit a three. With 10:17 left in first 20 minutes, the Bobcats trailed 35-11.

At halftime, Benedictine led 58-21.

In the second half, Peru State out-scored the Ravens 43-30 by hitting 63.3% of their field goals while playing better defense.

Team Statistics

Benedictine finished the game making 54% of their field goals, going 34 of 63, including 8 of 17 from three-point range for 47.1%. At the charity stripe, the Ravens were 12 of 16 for 75%.

After a dismal shooting first half, the Bobcats finished the game hitting 27 of 59 field goals for 45.8%. From three-point range, Peru State hit 7 of 19 for 36.8%. The 'Cats struggled at the free throw line, making just 3 of 9 for 33.3%.

The Ravens out-rebounded Peru State 31-26. Benedictine committed 21 turnovers while the Bobcats had 27 miscues.

Individual Statistics

Stuart and Hess were the only Bobcats in double figures finishing with 17 and 12 points respectively. Stuart made 7 of 8 field goals which included hitting all three of her three-point attempts. Tai'ler Warren (Omaha) was just one shy of double figures finishing with nine points.

Brianna Belcher (Bonifay, Fla.) led Peru State with five rebounds while Stuart and Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) each grabbed four.

Hess dished out a team-high three assists while Madrid led the team with four steals.

BENEDICTINE BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

On Saturday, the Bobcats will face another HAAC foe when they travel to Springfield, Mo., to face the Lady Crusaders of Evangel University. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Evangel is currently 4-3 and 1-0 in the HAAC as they topped Avila University on Thursday 67-53.

Following finals week, on Dec. 14, the Bobcats will be in Lawrence, Kan., to play the Fighting Indians of Haskell Indian Nations University at 2 p.m. Haskell is currently 2-9 on the season and will play William Penn this Saturday before the Peru State game the following Saturday.