(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team threw a scare into the fifth-ranked Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) on Thursday night in the first half. For the first 16 minutes of the game, the Bobcats were within four at 25-21 before MNU pulled ahead by nine at halftime.

In the second half, the Pioneers were a little too strong for Peru State as MNU pulled away for an 83-60 victory in Olathe, Kan.

With the win, MidAmerica Nazarene remained perfect in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) with a 6-0 mark and are 14-1 overall. Peru State fell to 3-13 overall and 1-5 in HAAC conference play.

Game Action

Peru State kept it close throughout the majority of the first half. For the first 12 minutes, the 'Cats were within five of the Pioneers most of the time. After trailing 10-5 at the 16:05 mark, a trey by Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) on an assist from Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) got the Bobcats back within two with 15:09 left in the first 20 minutes.
On the Bobcats' next possession, Stuart was fouled going to the hoop and made one of two free throws to make it 10-9. A three-pointer by MNU extended their lead to four at 13-9. Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up to cut it to 13-11 with 11:10 remaining.

MNU hit a free throw to make it 14-11 before Peterson hit another bucket in the paint on an assist from Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) with 10:15 left in the half. Peterson then returned the favor as she dished off an assist to Tate off an MNU turnover as Peru State took its only lead of the game at 15-14 with 9:34 to go.

The Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to lead 21-15 with 7:51 remaining in the first stanza.

Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) hit a pair of free throws and a two-pointer in the paint off a turnover to get the 'Cats back within two at 21-19 with 5:53 to go, but that would be as close as Peru would be during the rest of the game.

MNU led 35-26 at halftime. During the second half, the Pioneers led by as many as 24 at 67-43 with 8:12 left in the game. Peru State whittled the lead back to 16 at 68-52 when Rachel Blair (Hubbard) nailed a three-pointer on an assist from Wilkinson.

Team Statistics

MNU has been a good-shooting team all season and continued on that mode Thursday night as they hit 34 of 58 shots for 58.6%. From three-point range, the Pioneers were 4 of 12 for 33.3%. MidAmerica Nazarene struggled a little at the free throw line make 11 of 21 for 52.4%.

The 'Cats made 24 of 62 field goal tries for 38.7% including just 3 of 17 from behind the arc for 17.6%. While Peru State improved at the free throw line at 9 of 20 for 45%, but it was well below their goal of 75%.

The taller Pioneers out-rebounded Peru State 44-32, but committed more turnovers, 22, compared to the Bobcats' 19. MNU blocked three shots while Peru State swatted away two.
Individual Statistics

After missing five games, Peterson came back and led Peru State in scoring with 16 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the floor. Stuart was the only other Bobcat in double figures as she finished with 15 points.

Peterson finished with a double-double as she grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Hess added six boards to go along with her seven points.

Wilkinson dished out six assists and also led the team with three steals. Peterson added four assists while Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) matched Wilkinson with three steals.

MNU BOX SCORE

Upcoming Games

As the conference season continues, the Bobcats will host the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton College on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Presently, the Wildcats are 3-11 overall and are winless in the HAAC at 0-6.

Then, on Thursday, Jan. 23, the Bobcats will host another set of Wildcats, this time the Baker University variety. Currently, the 21^st-ranked Baker team is 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the HAAC. Thursday's game will be Peru State's NAIA Coaches versus Cancer Suits and Sneakers game. Admission for the game will be waived as a free-will donation will be accepted.