(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team dropped a pair of close games in Heart of America Athletic Conference action this past weekend on the road.
On Thursday, the Bobcats fell at the hands of the Graceland University Yellowjackets in Lamoni, Iowa, by a score of 75-68. Then, on Saturday, Peru State travelled to Marshall, Mo., and was defeated by Missouri Valley College 71-63. Saturday's game was supposed to be a home contest, but a water leak which sources the Al Wheeler Activity Center forced the moving of the game to Marshall.
With the losses, the 'Cats are still winless in conference play at 0-5 and are now 3-11 for the season.
Graceland Game Highlights and Statistics Peru State led for over 11 minutes in the first half before Graceland took the lead at halftime 42-37. The Bobcats would come back in the second half and tie it up at 48-48 at the 14:01 mark. The teams would trade leads before the Yellowjackets gained the lead for good at 60-58 with just over ten minutes left in the game in route to the win.
Graceland outshot the Bobcats from the field, but not at the free throw line. The Yellowjackets made 29 of 70 field goals for 41.4% which included 7 of 22 from behind the arc for 31.8%. At the charity stripe, Graceland was 10 of 19 for 52.6%.
Peru State made 26 of 72 field goals for 36.1% and only hit 4 of 20 three-point attempts for 20%. From the free throw line, the 'Cats were 12 of 18 for 66.7%.
The Bobcats did grab more rebounds than Graceland, 52 to 44. But, Peru State did commit more turnovers as the 'Cats finished with 18 while the Yellowjackets had 13 miscues. Graceland also blocked six Peru State field goal tries.
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by
Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) who finished with a career- and game-high 22 points.
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) and
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) added 18 and 10 respectively.
Stuart finished the game with a game-high 13 rebounds which gave her another double-double for the season.
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) grabbed eight rebounds with Hess and
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) each grabbing seven.
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) and Stuart led Peru State with four assists. Stuart and Madrid each had two steals.
Rylie Bowser (Holton, Kan.) had the team's lone blocked shot.
GRACELAND GAME BOX Missouri Valley Game Highlights and Statistics Against the Lady Vikings, Peru State led most of the entire first half. At the 12:08 point in the first 20 minutes, the 'Cats led 20-11, but by halftime, Mo Valley had cut the deficit to one at 37-36.
A three-point bucket by the Lady Vikings to start the second half gave Mo Valley the lead for good in the game. Missouri Valley led by as many as nine, but Peru State kept fighting back on several occasions to a few points, but the Lady Vikings pulled away at the end.
Once again the Bobcats were out-shot by their opponents. Missouri Valley made 27 of 57 field goals for 47.4%, including making 7 of 18 three-pointers for 38.9%. Neither team shot well from the free throw line, but the Lady Vikings did make 10 of 18 for 55.6%.
The 'Cats were 25 of 61 for 41% from the floor which included making just 4 of 15 from three-point range. At the charity stripe, Peru State was 9 of 21 for 42.9%.
Missouri Valley also out-rebounded the 'Cats 42-35. The teams had an almost equal amount of turnovers as Peru State committed 16 while Missouri Valley had 15.
Peru State again had three players in double figures with Hess leading the team in Saturday's contest with 20. Stuart finished with 13 while Harward added 13.
Laure and Bowser each grabbed six rebounds to lead Peru State with Hess and Harward adding five apiece.
Bowser dished out six assists with Laure handing out four. Madrid and Hess each had two steals. Hess and Bowser were each credited with one blocked shot.
MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOX Upcoming Games Peru State was to have played a game with Haskell Indian Nations University today, but that game is currently cancelled unless the teams can find a mutually agreeable date to play.
On Thursday the Bobcats will be hosting MidAmerica Nazarene University at 5:30 p.m. Currently, the Pioneers are 12-4 overall and 5-0 in the Heart. MidAmerica Nazarene was rated 14
th in the latest NAIA DI Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
Then, on Saturday, the 'Cats will be traveling Canton, Mo., to face Culver-Stockton College. The Wildcats are presently 11-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play having won their last four contests.
