(Peru, Neb.) – With only eight available players, the Peru State women's basketball team fell at Evangel University Monday night by the score of 68-55. The third quarter proved to be key as the Crusaders outscored the Bobcats 22-10 on their way to the win.
 
With the win, Evangel improved to 5-8 overall and 4-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference while the 'Cats fell to 5-11 and 2-6.

 
First Quarter Action
 
After the Crusaders hit a three to open the game, Kealy Ensminger (Homer) came back with a trey of her own at the 7:49 mark coming on an assist from Jackie Beaugard (Omaha). Ensminger then hit a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats on top with 6:55 left in the first ten minutes. On the next Evangel possession, Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) stole the ball and later scored giving the 'Cats their largest lead of the game at 7-3 with 6:23 to go. The quarter would finish with the teams trading leads with the Crusaders having a 14-13 advantage at the end.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Evangel would increase their lead to seven at 21-14 with 7:30 to go in the first half before Wilkinson would stop the run with a bucket. Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) would follow with another bucket and with 5:36 left in the quarter, Peru State trailed 21-18. Ensminger would hit another three-pointer off an assist from Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) to tie it at 21-21 with 4:47 remaining in the first 20 minutes. The Crusaders would close the quarter with a 9-3 run and led 30-24 at the end of the half.
 
Third Quarter Action
 

The Crusaders basically owned the third quarter as they outscored Peru State 22-10 and led 52-34 after 30 minutes of play.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Evangel led by as many as 22 at 60-38 with 7:24 left in the game before the Bobcats slowly cut into the lead. Beaugard hit a bucket and then followed with one of two free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound making the score 60-41. Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) hit a three on an assist from Wilkinson and the 'Cats then trailed 60-44 5:19 remaining. Peru State could only get as close as 12 at 62-50 after Ensminger hit another trey. The Crusaders would finish the game with a 68-55 win.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Crusaders made 25 of 63 field goals for 39.7% including 5 of 16 three-point tries for 31.3%. At the free throw line, Evangel was 13 of 19 for 68.4%. Peru State made 19 of 62 field goals for 30.6% and hit 6 of 21 from long range for 28.6%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats were 11 of 20 for 55%.
 
The taller Crusaders held a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 53 boards compared to Peru State's 30. Evangel nearly doubled the 'Cats in assists as they finished with 15 while Peru State had eight. One good sign for the Bobcats was that they only committed 12 turnovers compared to Evangels' 19. The Bobcats had five blocked shots while Evangel had eight. Both teams had seven steals.

 
Individual Statistics
 
Ensminger finished with a career- and game-high 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting including hitting 5 of 7 from behind the arc. Ensminger also hit both of her free throws. Wilkinson also finished in double figures with 14 points, also on 6 of 10 shooting.
 
Beaugard led the team with eight rebounds while Laure pulled down seven. Wilkinson dished out four assists with Daniel contributing three. Wilkinson also had a game-high four steals while Daniel nabbed two. Beaugard was credited with four blocked shots with Wilkinson adding one.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will host 21^st-ranked Baker University Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Currently, the Wildcats are 11-4 overall and 5-3 in the Heart after topping William Penn Monday night.
 

On Saturday, the Bobcats will travel to Avila University in Kansas City, Mo., to take on the Eagles at 2 p.m. Presently, Avila is 1-14 on the season and winless in conference play having lost 13 games in row. But, the Eagles have played teams close, which included a loss Monday night to Missouri Valley 65-61, a team the 'Cats held on to defeat this past Saturday by five.