(Peru, Neb.) – Despite a sluggish performance, the Peru State Bobcat women's basketball team won their seventh Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) game over Avila University, 62-58, Saturday in the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC).
 
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 7-9 in the HAAC and 12-16 overall.  Their 7-9 mark places them in sixth in the ten-team conference and assures Peru State with a post-season berth.  With the loss, Avila fell to 5-19 overall and 4-12 in the conference.  The Eagles are tied for eighth in the HAAC with their post-season hopes relying upon what they do during the next two games.  
Game Action
 
The Eagles took an early 6-2 lead before Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Adaugo Osuala (Lakewood, Colo.) had back-to-back baskets to tie it at 6-6 with 16:07 left in the first half.  Another Osuala bucket put Peru State up 8-6 nearly two minutes later, giving the 'Cats a lead they would never relinquish.
 
At halftime, the Bobcats led 31-27. 
 
In the second half, Peru State built its lead to seven at 36-29 on a basket by Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) coming off an assist by Tate with 19:14 remaining in the game.  The seven-point advantage would be the largest lead of the game for either team.
 
With 13:20 to go, Avila did get back to within one at 41-40.  However, Natasha Moss (Indianapolis) hit a big three-pointer on another assist from Tate to put Peru State back up 44-40 at the 12:47 mark. 
 
Avila would come as close as two on several different occasions, including near the end of the game when it was Peru State 60-58 with 13 ticks left on the clock.  Another Osuala field goal gave the 'Cats the four-point win 62-58.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats shot 41.9% from the field, making 26 of 62 shots, which include going three of nine for 33.3% from behind the arc.  Peru State's struggles at the free throw line continued as they made only seven of 23 for 30.4%.  The Eagles made 19 of 56 field goals for 33.9%, including four of 11 from three-point range, for 36.4%.  Avila kept it close at the charity stripe as they hit 16 of 32 for 50%.
 
Peru State forced Avila into 23 turnovers while committing 16 miscues themselves.  The Eagles did outrebound Peru State 45-33.   
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures with Osuala leading the way with 20.  Osuala also added six steals and four rebounds. 
 
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) had 11 points and four rebounds.  Moss finished with a double double as she had ten points and ten rebounds.

AVILA BOX SCORE

Record Watch
 
With her six steals, Osuala broke the single-season total steals mark set by PSC Hall of Famer Lora (White) Gulley of 111 in 1991-92.  Osuala now has 117 steals with two regular season and at least one post-season game left.
 
Ward tied the career games played mark set by DeeAnn (Othmer) Richardson with 120 games.  Richardson played from 1997-2000.  In addition, Ward is now fifth in career free throws made with 253, moving ahead of Liz Jessen, who played from 1987-1990.  Also, Ward is eighth in career free throws attempted, moving ahead of PSC Hall of Famer Kristie (Olberding) George, who had 370 attempts while playing from 1986-89.
 
Tate has placed herself among the career assists leaders as she has 283 in her three years, which is seventh all-time, also moving ahead of Richardson who finished with 272. 
 
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