(Peru, Neb.) – When the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women's basketball team had an opportunity to change their conference standing, poor shooting kept them from doing so. 
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats shot only 27% from the field and dropped a 58-52 contest to the Missouri Valley College Vikings in Marshall, Mo.
 
With the loss, Peru State remained tied for fifth with Culver-Stockton with 6-8 records in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) standings.  There are four HAAC regular season games remaining.  Overall, PSC is now 11-15. 
 
By winning, Mo Valley improved to 4-10 in the HAAC and 7-19 overall.  Their 4-10 mark ties them for the last qualifying spot for the post-season tournament with Avila University.
 Game Action
 
The Vikings took an early 4-0 lead before Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) put the Bobcats on the board on an assist from Adaugo Osuala (Lakewood, Colo.) at the 17:58 mark in the first half.
 
Ward gave the Bobcats their first lead at 7-6 when she hit the first of two three throws with 15:26 remaining in the first half.  Mo Valley regained the lead at 15-13 with 12:26 to go in the first stanza and stretched their lead to as many as seven at 28-21 before Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) hit a three pointer with 93 seconds left in the first half.  That would prove to be the final score in the first stanza as the Vikings took a 28-24 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, Mo Valley stretched their lead to 11 at 37-26 with 15:15 remaining in the game.   The lead was still 11 at 46-35 with 6:45 left before PSC started to mount a rally. 
 
Peru State went on a 17-7 run to get within one at 53-52 with 1:21 left.   However, the 'Cats could not score after that point as the Vikings went on to win 58-52.  
Team Statistics
 
Mo Valley made 20 of 52 field goal tries for 38.5% compared to PSC's 27% which saw the 'Cats make only 17 of 63 field goals.  The Vikings made two of nine three pointers for 22.2%, compared to PSC's three of 15 for 20%.  The Bobcats did fare slightly better than Mo Valley at the free throw line canning 15 of 26 tries for 57.7%.  The Vikings made 16 of 29 for 55.2%.
 
The Vikings outrebounded PSC 35-29, but committed 29 turnovers, compared to PSC's 21.  The 'Cats had 19 steals in the game and also blocked four shots.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Ward finished with her 17^th double double of the year to lead PSC with 17 points and 13 rebounds.  Both were game-highs.  In addition, Ward had four blocked shots and four steals.
 
Osuala finished with 11 points and nabbed seven steals.

MISSOURI VALLEY BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have two more conference match-ups this week.  On Thursday, Feb. 14, they will travel to Atchison, Kan., to take on the Benedictine College Ravens beginning at 5:30 p.m.   The 14^th-ranked Ravens are 12-2 in the HAAC and 22-4 overall.  On Saturday, Benedictine lost to the HAAC leader, MidAmerica Nazarene University 70-65 at home.
 
Avila University will be the Bobcats' opponent on Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Al Wheeler Activity Center in Peru.  Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.  The Eagles currently are 4-10 and tied for eighth in the HAAC, having lost their last two games.  Overall, Avila is 5-17.
 
On the 16^th, Gary's Tumbling from Glenwood, Iowa, will be performing at halftime of each of the ballgames.  If you have not seen the tumblers, it is a high-flying and entertaining show.