(Peru, Neb.) – The Avila University Eagles won their first Heart of America Athletic Conference game of the year in overtime by defeating Peru State on Saturday 69-65 in Peru.
 
The Bobcats' Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) hit a trey on an assist from Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) with ten seconds left in the game to force overtime with the visiting Eagles.  The game ended 60-60 in regulation.  In the OT, Avila outscored the 'Cats 9-5 to grab the win.
 
With the win, Avila improved to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the Heart.  Peru State fell to 1-8 on the season and 0-3 conference play.

 
First Half Action
 
The game was close throughout the entire game.  In the first half, the game was tied four different times after each team had leads.  The Eagles led by as many as six at one point while Peru State led by five.
 
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) put the Bobcats on the board first as she grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in.  Avila came back to tie it and Harward quickly broke the tie with another bucket on an assist from Sydney Young (Omaha). 
 
After the Eagles had tied it at 4-4, Young drained a long trey on an assist from Wilkinson to make it 7-4 with 16:22 left in the first half.  A minute later, Hess hit a field goal to put the 'Cats on top by five at 9-4, which was Peru State's largest lead of the first half.
 
Avila fought back to tie it at 9-9, but one of two free throws by Hess put the 'Cats back up.  After the game was tied at 16-16 with 5:43 remaining in the first 20 minutes, three consecutive baskets by Avila gave them their largest lead of the first half at 22-16 with 3:02 left.
 
A bucket by Harward from an assist from Wilkinson, followed by a trey by Hess on an assist from Harward quickly cut the score to 22-21 with 1:28 to go in the half.
 
The Eagles hit a basket but Hess countered with a bucket of her own, this time on an assist from Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.).  The half ended with Avila leading 24-23.
 
Second Half Action
 
The second started with the Bobcats going on an 11 to 6 run to lead 34-30 at the 14:53 mark.  Two buckets by Avila tied it up 34-34 less than a minute later. 
 
A 9-0 run by the Bobcats put Peru State up 43-34 with just over ten minutes left in the game.  However, the Eagles did not give up.  The 'Cats still led 47-39 before Avila fought back to tie it at 48-48 with 3:17 remaining.
 
 

The teams were tied five more times throughout the rest of regulation with it being 60-60 after 40 minutes of play.
 
Overtime
 
Avila hit the first basket in overtime, but Harward, on an assist from Stuart, tied it at 62-62 with 3:50 left in OT.   That would be the only time when the game was tied in overtime. 
 
Peru State was within one at 65-64 after Young hit a pair of free throws with 1:51 left.  But, the Eagles made four free throws down the stretch while Peru State could only make one to win 69-65.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Eagles shot better than Peru State in the game with the exception from behind the arc.  Avila was 24 of 59 for 40.7% while the Bobcats were 24 of 72 for 33.3%.  From long range, the Eagles were 5 of 20 for 25% and Peru State was 6 of 13 for 46.2%.
 
At the charity stripe, Avila made 16 of 20 for 80% while the 'Cats were 11 of 18 for 61.1%.
 
Avila out-rebounded the Bobcats 44 to 39, but committed more turnovers, 18, compared to Peru State's 11.  Both teams had seven steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
The Bobcats struggled to stop Avila's Rebekah Capeder, the Heart's leading scorer, as she finished the game with 35 points. 
 
For Peru State, they had a very balanced scoring attack as three players finished with 16 points.  Harward, Young, and Hess each had 16 while Stuart finished with 14.
 
Hess finished with a double double as she grabbed ten rebounds.  Harward just missed a double double as she had nine boards.
 
Wilkinson dished out six assists while Harward added four.  Harward and Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) each had two steals while Harward had Peru State's lone blocked shot.

AVILA GAME BOX
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will have a non-conference game to finish off the 2014 year.  On Wednesday, Peru State will travel to Omaha to face the Grace University Royals at 7 p.m.  Currently, the Royals are 2-10 and will play a game on Tuesday before playing the Bobcats.
 
After the new year starts, Peru State will participate in the Coyote Classic hosted by Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan.  On Friday, Jan. 2, the Bobcats will play McPherson College (Kan.) at 2 p.m.  The Bulldogs are presently 2-11.
 
Then, on Saturday, Jan. 3, Peru State will take on the tourney hosts at 4 p.m.  Currently, the Coyotes are 7-3, but will play two more games before facing the Bobcats.