(Peru, Neb.) – In its first three and one-half years in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the Peru State women's basketball team had only defeated one conference team ranked in the top 25.
On Thursday night, the Bobcats overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to rally and topple the visiting 12
th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Pioneers 72-70. The win gave the 'Cats their first Heart win of the season while handing the Pioneers their first conference loss. The Peru State win over the Pioneers was their best win in Heart conference play after previously topping then 23rd-ranked Central Methodist University in January of 2013.
With the victory, Peru State improved to 1-5 in conference play and 4-11 overall. MidAmerica Nazarene fell to 12-5 on the season and 5-1 in the Heart.
Game Action It looked bleak for Peru State at the start of the game as the Pioneers reeled off the first eight points of the contest. A three-point bucket by
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) put the 'Cats on the board with 16:30 left in the first half.
Karlee Stuart hits the first of her four treys
against MNU over the outstretched hands of
Pioneer Martyna Kudziela. Stuart led all scorers
in the game with 24 points. The Bobcats were still within single digits at 19-10 before MNU reeled off nine straight points to lead 28-10 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first 20 minutes. The Pioneers had their largest lead of the game at 32-13 at the 5:26 mark.
At halftime, MidAmerica Nazarene had what appeared to be a comfortable 16-point cushion as they led 39-23 at halftime. Poor shooting by the Bobcats helped spell their early demise as Peru State only made 10 of 38 attempts for 26.3%. The Pioneers had the hot hand as they connected on 56.3% of their field goals as they hit 15 of 28 attempts. In addition, MNU had out-rebounded the 'Cats by nine as the Pioneers grabbed 26 rebounds compared to Peru State's 17.
Peru State opened the second half with another trey by Stuart on an assist from
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix). After Pioneer Daria Sprew hit a bucket for the Pioneers, the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run capped off by a pair of
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) to cut the deficit to 41-33 with 17:19 left in the game.
A two-pointer by MNU's Jasmine Webb and a trey by Bailey Rinehart gave the Pioneers a 46-33 advantage, but that would be their largest lead during the rest of the contest.
Peru State went on a 19-9 run to pull within three after Stuart hit another long-range shot with 9:11 remaining in the game.
The teams would trade buckets until 3:14 was left in the game as
Rylie Bowser (Holton, Kan.) made a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats within one at 65-64. After several failed attempts by both teams, Peru State's
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) missed a field goal, but grabbed her miss and put it back in to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 66-65 with 1:42 left.
On the next possession, MNU's Martyna Kudziela hit a pair of free throws to regain the lead for the Pioneers. With one minute left on the clock, Bowser found Stuart for her fourth three-pointer of the game and the 'Cats were back out on top at 69-67.
MNU's Megan Balcom tied the game at 69-69 on a pair of free throws, but a Wilkinson field goal put Peru State back up with 25 seconds left.
The Pioneers were not out of it, but managed to hit just one of four free throw attempts during the rest of the game. With just .3 of a second left in the game, Stuart was fouled on the pass inbounds and made one of two free throws to seal the upset.
Rylie Bowser (22) battles with Jasmine Webb from MNU for the ball in the first half. Bowser
ended up with the steal which led to a Peru State bucket.Team Statistics The Pioneers still outshot Peru State from the floor as they finished the contest hitting 26 of 58 field goals for 44.8% while the Bobcats made 27 of 70 tries for 38.6%. From long range, though, the 'Cats made 6 of 19 for 31.6%, compared to MNU's 2 of 13 for 15.4%.
MNU was 16 of 26 from the free throw line for 61.5% compared to the Bobcats' 12 of 18 for 66.7%.
The Pioneers still held the rebounding edge at the end of the game as they finished with 45 boards while Peru State finished with 39.
Peru State forced MNU into 19 turnovers while committing 13 miscues. The Bobcats grabbed seven steals while the Pioneers had seven.
Individual Statistics 
Sydney Wilkinson shoots over Megan Balcom for two of her 16 points
in the Bobcat victory over MNUStuart led all scorers with 24 points on 9 of 19 shooting which included making 4 of 8 three-point attempts. Two other Bobcats finished in double figures as Wilkinson added 16 and Harward ten.
Sprew led MNU with 18 with Tristin Wicks contributing 14. Wicks finished with game-high rebounding honors as she grabbed 11 boards.
The same three leading Bobcat scorers were also their rebounding leaders as Stuart, Harward, and Wilkinson each finished with seven boards.
Wilkinson had a game-high five steals and led Peru State with three assists. Bowser added four steals and two assists.
Harward block two Pioneer shot attempts to lead the 'Cats.
MNU GAME BOX Upcoming Contests Peru State will be traveling to Culver-Stockton College on Saturday to face the Wildcats in Canton, Mo. The Wildcats are currently 11-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play as they lost on the road Thursday night at Missouri Valley. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
On Monday, Jan. 19, the Bobcats will play a non-conference game with NCCAA Grace University in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Game time with the 2-16 Royals is 5 p.m.
