(Peru, Neb.) – The Baker University Wildcats scored the first two points of the game on a pair of free throws and led the entire contest while defeating the Peru State women Thursday night. Baker topped the Bobcats 78-64 in Peru.
With the win, Baker improved to 19-8 overall and 12-5 in the Heart of America Athletic Contest. The win gave the Wildcats sole possession of third place and a quarterfinal matchup with Graceland University Thursday night, March 5.
Peru State fell to 9-19 overall and 5-12 in conference play. Presently, the Bobcats are tied with Central Methodist University for seventh in the Heart. Saturday's contest with Central Methodist will determine whether or not the Bobcats host a play-in game on Monday night.
Shelbie Hess drives through a pair of Baker defenders on her way to
two points. Hess finished with a game-high 19 points. Game Action After Baker scored the first two points,
Brittany Harward (Orem, Utah) made one of two free throws to put Peru State on the scoreboard at the 18:08 mark in the first half.
Baker moved out to a 10-6 lead, but a trey by
Shelbie Hess (Phoenix) cut the deficit to one with 13:11 left in the first twenty minutes.
Peru State would still be within one at 16-15. However, that would be as close as the Bobcats would be as the Wildcats would outscore Peru State 22 to 11 to lead by 12 at half at 38-26.
The Bobcats did have some fight early in the second half as they cut the Baker lead to seven at 46-39 after
Brianna Madrid (Glendale, Ariz.) hit a bucket on an assist from
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) with 15:22 left in the game.
Again, that would be as close as Peru State would be as the Wildcats would lead by as many as 17 on several occasions the rest of the game on their way to the 14-point win.
Team Statistics Both teams shot the ball well from the floor with Baker making 50.9% of their field goals as they connected on 27 of 53 attempts. From long range, the Wildcats were 4 of 10 for 40%. A big difference in shooting came at the free throw line as Baker made 20 of 26 attempts for 76.9%.
Brittany Harward grabs one of her five
rebounds against Baker. Harward added
five points in the loss.Peru State was 23 of 54 on field goals for 42.6% which included making 7 of 18 three-point tries for 38.9%. The Bobcats did struggle at the free throw line making 11 of 21 for 52.4%.
The much taller and bigger Wildcats held a big rebounding advantage as they grabbed 37 boards compared to Peru State's 22. The turnovers were nearly equal as Baker had 20 while the Bobcats had 19 miscues.
Individual Statistics Two Bobcats finished in double figures as Hess had a game-high 19 points on 6 of 8 shooting from the floor, including making 3 of 5 three-point tries. Harward added 14 points.
Karlee Stuart (Las Animas, Colo.), Harward, and
Sydney Young (Omaha) each grabbed five rebounds to lead the Bobcats. Wilkinson dished out four assists and also grabbed four steals. Stuart and Harward were each credited with two steals. Harward also blocked two shots with Madrid credited for one block.
BAKER GAME BOOK Upcoming Games The Bobcats are in Fayette, Mo., on Saturday for the final regular-season game of the year facing the Central Methodist University Eagles. The Bobcats and Eagles are tied for seventh with 5-12 marks with the winner being assured of hosting a play-in game on Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m. The loser will have to await the outcome of Evangel University's game with Benedictine to see if they will still host a play-in. For Peru State, if the Bobcats lose and if Evangel loses, Peru State would host a play-in game with Evangel being the likely opponent.
The official bracket will be released after all games are concluded on Saturday.
