(Peru, Neb.) – After playing most of the first half to a single-digit deficit, the Peru State women's basketball team saw Baker jump to a 16-point lead at halftime. Then, in the second half, the Bobcats cut a 20-point Wildcat lead down to eight with ten minutes to go, but Baker pulled away for an 85-63 victory in Baldwin City, Kan., Thursday night.
The 13
th-ranked Wildcats improved to 23-5 overall and 16-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) while assuring Baker of at least a tie for the conference title.
Peru State fell to 7-21 overall and is now 5-12 in the conference. Currently, the Bobcats are in a tie for seventh and hold the tie breaker over Evangel University at this point. Avila University still could be in the mix. Then, it would go to the tiebreaker for three teams.
Game Action
The early action went back and forth with game being tied four times in the first half with the last tie coming at 9-9 with 13:23 remaining in the first half.
Baker went on an 11-2 run before
Sydney Young (Omaha) drained a three-pointer to cut it to 20-14 with 8:52 left in the first half. After
Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) stole a Baker pass,
Rachel Blair (Hubbard) drained another three to get Peru State back within three at 20-17 with 8:30 to go in the first stanza.
Another Baker run of 15-7 put the Wildcats up 35-24 before
Brittany Peterson (Orem, Utah) hit a bucket in the paint to get Peru State back within single digits at 35-26 with just over two minutes left in the half.
A 7-0 run by the Wildcats extended their lead to 16 at 42-26 at halftime.
In the second half, Baker maintained their double-digit advantage and led 59-41 with 12:47 remaining in the game. At that point, the Bobcats went on a 10-0 run which was started when Peterson grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to make it 59-43.
An offensive rebound by
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) was put back in by Hess to cut the lead to 59-45 with 11:39 left. Hess picked up another offensive rebound and put it back in, cutting the Baker advantage to 59-47.
After a Baker blocked shot which gave the Bobcats the possession,
Leslie Kirkland (Rock Port, Mo.) put in a hoop to get Peru State within ten at 59-49 with 10:49 left.
After a steal by
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.), Peterson hit a bucket in the paint with Stuart being credited for the assist. With 10:25 remaining, Peru State was back within eight at 59-51.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, that was the biggest push they would get in the second half and Baker pulled away for the win.
Team Statistics
The Wildcats were hot from the floor as they made 32 of 59 field goals for 54.2%, including hitting 7 of 14 three-pointers for 50%. At the charity stripe, Baker hit 14 of 23 for 60.9%.
Peru State shot better than in previous games as they made 26 of 63 field goals for 41.3%. From behind the arc, the Bobcats made 4 of 13 for 30.8%. From the free throw line, Peru State made 7 of 9 tries for 77.8%.
The Wildcats grabbed five more rebounds than Peru State, 37 to 32. Baker committed fewer turnovers than the Bobcats, 20, compared to Peru State's 27. The Wildcats had five blocked shots while Peru State swatted away two Baker tries.
Individual Statistics
Peterson led all scorers with 27 points on 12 of 20 shooting. Hess also finished in double figures with 11 points.
Peterson shared game-high rebounding honors as she snared seven rebounds while Hess adding six.
Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N.C.) dished out a season-high and game-high nine assists. Peterson led the team with three steals while Stuart, Tate, and Kirkland each adding two. Peterson was also credited with two blocks.
BAKER BOX SCORE
Upcoming Game(s)
The Bobcats will be hosting Central Methodist University on Saturday in the AWAC at 2 p.m. Currently, the Eagles are receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll and are tied for third in the HAAC with an 11-6 mark, along with Benedictine College. Overall, Central Methodist is 20-8.
Prior to the game, Tate, the lone senior on the team this year, will be recognized. At halftime of the women's game, the Bobcat cheerleaders, along with their youth participants, will perform.
With a win, the Bobcats would assure themselves of a playoff spot on Thursday, March 6, at a higher seed. With a loss, Peru State will have to wait until the outcome of the other conference games on Saturday to determine their fate.
