(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team started the 2015 portion of their campaign with a win over the McPherson College Bulldogs in the Coyote Classic on Friday, Jan. 2.  The Bobcats topped McPherson 66-51.  On Saturday, the 'Cats fell to the tourney hosts, Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU), 69-61 in a close contest. 
 
With the split of contest, Peru State is now 3-9 for the 2014-15 season.  The Bobcats did play in the Classic without the services of their tallest players – Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) and Jennifer Ostrowski (Kankakee, Ill.) – who were both out with injuries.
 
McPherson Game Action
 
The first 15 minutes of the contest was back and forth with the Bobcats having the largest lead of four at 18-14 with 5:48 to go in the first 20 minutes.  After the Bulldogs cut Peru State's lead to one with just under five minutes remaining, the Bobcats outscored McPherson 13 to 2 to take a 31-19 advantage at halftime.

 
McPherson had scored the first points of the game and it was nearly two minutes later before Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.) tied it up with a bucket in the paint on an assist from Shelbie Hess (Phoenix). 
 
Later, after the game was tied at 13-13 with 9:31 left in the first half, Rylie Bowser (Holton, Kan.) drained a three pointer on an assist from Hess to give Peru State the lead for good in the game.  This was Bowser's first points as a Bobcat after joining the team at the semester break.
 
With the score 18-17 Peru State with 4:57 remaining in the half, Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) hit a pair of free throws to start the Bobcat run to the end of the first half.  Stuart ended the half with a bucket in the paint to give the 'Cats their 12-point halftime cushion.
 
In the second half, Peru State's lead never fell below double digits.  A three-pointer by Sydney Young (Omaha) got things started for the Bobcats in the second frame with 19:22 left in the game.
 
McPherson closed to within ten twice.  It was 47-37 with 12:07 left and then still trailed by ten at 57-47 with 2:49 left in the game.
 
A pair of free throws by Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) closed out the game and gave the 'Cats their third win of the season.
 
McPherson Team Statistics
 
Neither team shot the ball very well from the floor as Peru State held a slight advantage.  The Bobcats made 22 of 63 field goals for 34.9%, but were better from long range as they made 9 of 25 for 36%.  At the free throw line, the 'Cats were 13 of 18 for 72.2%, one of their better nights at the line.
 
McPherson made 16 of 50 field goal tries for 32%, but was cold from behind the arc as they made only 3 of 24 for 12.5%.  At the charity stripe, the Bulldogs were 16 of 28 for 57.1%.
 
One of the biggest differences in the game was Peru State's rebounding advantage as they pulled down 53 boards compared to McPherson's 32.  Both teams were plagued by turnovers as the 'Cats committed 27 while the Bulldogs had 25 miscues.
 
McPherson Individual Statistics
 
 

It was a balanced scoring effort for Peru State as four players finished in double figures and eight of nine players suited up scoring. 
 
Stuart led the 'Cats with 15 points while Laure added 11.  Wilkinson and Bowser each added ten points.
 
Stuart finished the game with a double-double as she grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.  Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) added nine boards while Hess, Bowser, and Laure each grabbed six.
 
Wilkinson had a game-high six assists and also a game-high eight steals.  Hess added four assists with Bowser nabbing four steals.
 
Wilkinson, the shortest-player on the court, managed to have two blocked shots.

MCPHERSON GAME BOX
 
Kansas Wesleyan Game Action
 
After a very close first half, the Coyotes scored the first ten points of the second half to jump to an early 12-point advantage and Peru State had to try to fight back the rest of the game.  The 'Cats did get back within five on several occasions, including with just over three minutes left in the game, but could not get any closer.
 
There were five ties in the first half.  KWU hit a three-pointer to start the contest.  One of two free throws by Bowser, followed by a bucket by Hess, gave Peru State its first tie at 3-3 with 18:33 left in the first stanza.  Another bucket by Hess gave the Bobcats one of their two leads in the game at 5-3 just 40 seconds later.
 
The Coyotes would score the next six points to lead 9-5 at the 16:23 mark.  A pair of free throws by Hess was followed by a Young basket to knot the game at 9-9 with 14:13 to go in the first 20 minutes. 
 
KWU responded with a trey which was countered by a hoop from Madrid.  Wilkinson then got a steal and took it to the bucket for a score to give Peru State a 13-12 lead with 12:51 left in the half.  This would end up being the 'Cats last lead, although they would tie the game at 27-27 and later at 30-30 after Stuart would drain a three-pointer with two minutes remaining in the half.
 
At halftime, the Coyotes led 34-32.
 
While it took KWU five minutes to score the first ten points of the second half, it was enough of an advantage that made it tough for Peru State to try to come back from in the second stanza.
 
With 11:25 left, Stuart hit a bucket to cut it to 49-44, but the Coyotes responded.  Later, with just 5:14 to go, a free throw by Hess again put Peru State within five at 55-50.  Again, KWU would build their lead back to nine before buckets by Wilkinson and Hess would once again get the 'Cats within five at 59-54 with just 3:12 left.  But, that would be the last time the Bobcats would be that close as the Coyotes went on for the 69-61 win, gaining their tenth win of the season.

 
KWU Team Statistics
 
Neither team shot the ball extremely well, but the Coyotes held the advantage.  KWU was 21 of 56 in field goals for 37.5% which included going 6 of 19 from long range for 31.6%.  At the charity stripe, the Coyotes were 21 of 29 for 72.4% as they went to the line twice as many times as the 'Cats.
 
Peru State connected on 23 of 72 field goals for 31.9% and did outshoot KWU from behind the arc as they made 6 of 17 for 35.3%.  From the free throw line, the Bobcats were 9 of 14 for 64.3%.
 
Each team grabbed 46 rebounds.  Peru State committed fewer turnovers than the Coyotes as they had 17 compared to KWU's 19. 
 
KWU Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Hess with a game-high 18 points.  Stuart added 15 points with Wilkinson adding 11.
 
Stuart had her second straight double-double as she grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.  Young and Bowser each had seven boards.
 
Bowser finished with a game-high three assists with Young and Wilkinson each dishing out two.  Wilkinson led Peru State with a game-high six steals with Young and Bowser each grabbing two.  Wilkinson again had a blocked shot.

KWU GAME BOX
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will next play in a pair of Heart of America Athletic Conference contests.  On Jan. 8, the 'Cats will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to face Graceland University at 5:30 p.m.  Currently, the Yellowjackets are 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the Heart.  This will be the first game for Graceland in nearly one month.
 
Then, on Saturday, Peru State will host Missouri Valley College at 2 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.  The Vikings are 5-7 and 1-2 in the conference.  Like the 'Jackets, Missouri Valley had not played in nearly a month, but will host Avila University on the Thursday prior to their matchup with the Bobcats.