(Peru, Neb.) – After digging themselves into a deep hole in the first half and for most of the second half, the Peru State women's basketball team closed a 25-point deficit to just five points with less than 30 seconds left in the game. However, that effort fell short as the visiting Evangel University Crusaders held on for a 79-71 win.
With the win, Evangel improved to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The 'Cats dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in the Heart.
Game Action Peru State jumped to an early 4-0 lead on a bucket by
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) and one by
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) on an assist from
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah). Two quick Crusaders buckets negated that lead, but
Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) hit a bucket on an assist from Wilkinson.
Shelbie Hess's bucket is in the hoop for
two of her 15 points A 6-0 run by Evangel gave the Crusaders the lead for good as eventually went out to a 42-17 lead with 2:11 left in the first half. The Bobcats did score six points to close out the half on a free throw by Wilkinson, a three-pointer by
Sydney Young (Omaha), and a two-point hoop from
Madison Peterson (West Point, Utah), to make it 42-23 at half.
In the second half, Peru State closed to within 15 at 45-30 after Harward completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 16:23 left in the game.
Evangel would outscore the 'Cats 13-4 in the next stretch to lead 58-34 with 11:25 in the contest. It was after that point that Peru State slowly started to whittle away at the Crusader lead.
A trey by
Heather Brekke (Sunrise, Fla.) coming off an assist from Hess would get Peru State back within single-digits at 76-67 with about 35 seconds left. After a Crusader turnover, Hess would nail a three-pointer of her own making it a six-point contest with 31 seconds left. Hess would then get a steal and after two offensive rebounds by Peru State, Brekke found herself at the free throw line where she hit the first of two shots.
With 19 seconds left on the clock, the 'Cats were down only five at 76-71. Peru State immediately fouled and later had to foul again after an errant shot. Evangel finished with three of four free throws and won 79-71.
Team Statistics Both teams shot the ball well, but Evangel held the edge. The Crusaders made 23 of 45 field goals for 51.1% including 6 of 14 from behind the arc for 42.9%. Evangel was hot at the free throw line making 27 of 32 tries for 84.4%.
Peru State connected on 25 of 55 field goals for 45.5% which include 7 of 16 from three-point range for 43.8%. Part of the different in the game came at the charity stripe as the Bobcats made 14 of 25 for 56%.
The Bobcats were out-rebounded by the much-taller Evangel squad 32 to 19. However, Peru State forced the Crusaders to commit 21 turnovers compared to the Bobcats' 18.
Individual Statistics 
Early in the game, Sydney Wilkinson slices through the Crusader
defenders for two. Wilkinson was Peru State's top scorer as
she finished with 16.Peru State had three players in double figures. Wilkinson led the 'Cats with 16 while Hess had 15 and Harward finished with 14. Brekke was one short of double figures as she finished with nine.
Harward and Young each grabbed five rebounds. Harward and Wilkinson were each credited with one blocked shot.
Wilkinson led the team with four assists and had a game-high five steals.
EVANGEL GAME BOOK Upcoming Games The team will have a week to prepare for their next game as they complete their academic finals.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, Avila University will visit the confines of the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Game time with the Eagles, who are 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play is 2 p.m. Presently, Avila is on a three-game losing streak.
Peru State will play one additional game before closing the books on the 2014 calendar year as they will face Grace University in Omaha on Dec. 17. The game will begin at 7 p.m. Currently, the Royals are 2-9 and have lost five in a row. Grace will play two more contests prior to the Bobcats visiting on the 17
th.
