A well-balanced scoring effort with four players in double figures helped Peru State women's basketball earn its first Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) win of the season. The Bobcats topped the Evangel University Lady Crusaders 82-72 in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday.
With the win, Peru State improved to 2-6 overall and evened its mark in the HAAC at 1-1 after dropping its conference opener to Benedictine on Thursday. The Lady Crusaders fell to 4-4 and 1-1 in the HAAC.
The 'Cats took an early 4-0 lead on buckets by
Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) on an assist from
Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) and then by
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.). Evangel responded with a 4-0 run to tie it at 16:55 in the first half. A pair of free throws by Stuart allowed the Bobcats to regain the lead, but the Lady Crusaders again tied it a 6-6.
The game would be tied three more times, but after the fifth tie of the first half at 20-20 with 8:24 left in the first half, Peru State went on a 6-0 run. Madrid hit two consecutive buckets on assists by Stuart and
MaKayla Gardner (Dickens) and then
Sydney Young (Omaha) hit a bucket on an assist from Madrid. With 7:03 remaining in the first half, the 'Cats led 26-20.
Evangel would respond with a 6-0 run to knot it at 26-26 with 5:20 left. But, Gardner would hit a field goal on an assist from
Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.). Then, after an Evangel turnover, Young drained a three-pointer on another assist from Tate. Peru State led 31-26 with 3:31 to go in the first stanza.
The Lady Crusaders would go on a 10-0 run to take their largest lead of the first half at 36-31, but Madrid cut it to a three-point lead at 36-33 with 12 ticks left in the half. Evangel would hit a free throw to have a 37-33 lead at halftime.
To start the second half, the teams traded baskets for about the first five minutes as Evangel led 49-43 with 14:20 left in the game.
Then, things started to happen for the Bobcats.
Peterson got a field goal to cut it to 49-45 and then following a defensive rebound, Madrid completed an old-fashioned three-point play to cut it to a one-point deficit at 49-48 with 12:34 left in the game.
Evangel would hit a three-pointer to lead 52-48, but the 'Cats countered with a trey by Young. After a defensive rebound by Stuart, Tate dished off an assist to Stuart who nailed a two-pointer to put Peru State on top for good at 53-52 with 11:10 left in the game.
A 14-4 run, capped off by a field goal by Tate on an assist from Young, made it 67-56 with 6:02 remaining on the clock. Two field goals by Evangel cut it to a seven-point deficit at 67-60, but that would be as close as Evangel would get during the rest of the game.
Peru State led by 14 at 78-64 after Young hit another three-pointer on an assist from Hess and then held on for the 82-72 conference win.
Team Statistics
The Bobcats enjoyed their best overall shooting game as they made 30 of 63 field goals for 47.6%, including 5 of 11 from three-point range for 45.5%. At the charity stripe, Peru State hit 17 of 23 for 73.9%.
Evangel made 25 of 65 field goals for 38.5% and only made 6 of 22 three-point attempts for 27.3%. The Lady Crusaders were 16 of 22 from the free throw line for 72.7%.
Peru State enjoyed a slight advantage in rebounding at 41-39. The 'Cats doubled up Evangel in assists, 20 to 10, but committed one more turnover, making 22 errors. The Bobcats blocked three shots while Evangel swatted away four shots.
Individual Statistics
Three of the four Bobcats in double figures enjoyed career-high scoring efforts. Stuart led the team with 22 points, making 7 of 13 field goals and all seven free throws. Madrid hit 8 of 15 field goals and 3 of 4 free throws for 19 points. Peterson and Young each scored 14 points with the 14 being a career-best for Peterson. Peterson was 6 of 9 from the floor while Young nailed 4 of 5 three-point tries.
Peterson finished with a double double as she grabbed a team-high ten rebounds. Hess added nine rebounds for Peru State.
Tate dished out six assists and had one steal while Stuart had four assists and two steals. Madrid was also credited for two steals for Peru State. Peterson blocked two shots while Madrid blocked one.
EVANGEL BOX SCORE
Upcoming Games
Peru State will not play for a week as the team takes their finals. On Saturday, Dec. 14, the Bobcats will seek their third win of the season in non-conference play when they face the Haskell Indian Nations University Fighting Indians. The game will be played in Lawrence, Kan., and will begin at 2 p.m. Haskell is 2-9 on the season having lost to William Penn University 84-68 on Saturday.
The following Tuesday, Dec. 17, the 'Cats will travel Sioux City, Iowa, to face the Morningside University Mustangs at 7 p.m. Morningside is 6-3, but will play four more times before Peru State visits.
