(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing for most of the game and by as many as 12 in the second half, a late rally by the Bobcat women's basketball team was not enough as Peru State fell to the visiting Graceland University Yellowjackets 66-60 on Thursday night.

With the win, Graceland improved to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The loss moved Peru State to 3-11 on the season and 1-4 in the HAAC.

Game Action

The Yellowjackets hit a trey to take a lead in the game which they never relinquished, although Peru State had it tied twice early in the first half.

Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to 3-1 at the 19 minute mark before Graceland hit a pair of free throws to go up 5-1 just three seconds later. An assist from Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) to Leslie Kirkland (Rock Port, Mo.) cut it to 5-3. For Kirkland, this was her first bucket in a Bobcat uniform.

Another bucket by Graceland was countered by a two-pointer by Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.), keeping Peru State within two at 7-5 with 18:02 left in the first 20 minutes. The Yellowjackets hit another bucket making it 9-5 before Madrid hit another hoop on an assist from Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.). Both teams struggled to find the bucket for a couple minutes before Stuart knotted the score at 9-9 on an assist from Wilkinson with 14:30 left in the half.

The score was later tied at 15-15 with 9:18 remaining in the half before Graceland went on a 10-0 run to lead 25-15 with 4:52 to go. Peru State got back within four at 27-23 when Kirkland hit a bucket off the assist from Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) with 91 seconds left in the half.

A 4-1 run by Graceland closed out the half as the Yellowjackets led 31-24 at halftime.

To start the second half, Graceland outscored Peru State 13-8 stretching their lead to 44-32 with 15:09 left in the game. This was the largest lead of the game for either team. With 10:36 remaining, a bucket by Kirkland got the Bobcats back within six at 46-40.

A 5-0 run stopped that Bobcat rally as Graceland led 51-40 with exactly nine minutes to go.

Peru State slowly cut into the lead and were within four at 56-52 with 3:02 to go in the game as Hess hit a trey on an assist from Sydney Young (Omaha). The teams basically traded baskets the rest of the game as Graceland prevailed 66-60.

Team Statistics

It was another cool-shooting night for Peru State in all statistical categories. The Bobcats hit just 20 of 68 field goal tries for 29.4%. They were slightly better from behind the arc, hitting 6 of 19 for 31.6%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made only 14 of 29 for 48.3%.

Graceland shot slightly better hitting 25 of 72 for 34.7% while making just 3 of 16 from three-point range for 18.8%. The Yellowjackets made 13 of 22 free throws for 59.1%.

The 'Cats were out-rebounded by Graceland 53-46, but committed fewer turnover, 14 compared to 17 for the Yellowjackets.

Individual Statistics

Hess and Young finished in double digits for Peru State with 16 and 12 points respectively. Stuart and Kirkland each added nine points.

Stuart led all rebounders as she grabbed 13 boards. Kirkland and Hess each nabbed ten, giving Hess a double double on the night.

Wilkinson dished out four assists while Stuart and Tate each added three. Stuart, Madrid, Wilkinson, and Tate all had two steals. Madrid was credited for the lone Bobcat block on the night.

GRACELAND BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

Peru State will have another conference match-up on Saturday as they will travel to Marshall, Mo., to face the Missouri Valley Vikings beginning at 2 p.m.

Next week, the 'Cats will have another pair of conference contests as they will be on the road on Thursday, Jan. 16, taking on the MidAmerica Nazarene University Crusaders at 5:30 p.m. in Olathe, Kan. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 18, Peru State will host the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats beginning at 2 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.