(Peru, Neb.) – Shooting woes in the first and fourth quarters doomed the Bobcat women's basketball team Saturday night. Peru State fell to Avila University 77-52 in Kansas City, Mo.
 
With the win, the Eagles improved to 3-14 overall and 2-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State fell to 5-13 and has the same mark as Avila in conference action.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) completed an old-fashioned three-point play with a field goal coming on an assist from Kealy Ensminger (Homer).  At the 5:20 mark, Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) hit a bucket to tie it at 5-5 with an assist from Jackie Beaugard (Omaha). The Eagles would then outscore Peru State 16 to 5 to take a 21-10 lead at the end of the quarter.

 
The Bobcats made just 4 of 20 field goals in the period for 20% while the Eagles hit a scorching 63.6% of their field goal attempts.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Beaugard hit a bucket at the beginning of the second quarter on an assist from Laure. Avila responded with a pair of buckets and then maintained a double-digit lead throughout the quarter until the very end of the stanza. Daniel hit a trey on an assist from Ensminger to make it 35-26 with 23 seconds left on the clock and the teams headed into halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Avila started the quarter with a trey and again maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the quarter. Ensminger made three of four free throws to cut the deficit to nine at 43-34 at the 5:09 mark, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would be the rest of the contest.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Eagles outscored Peru State 24-14 on their way to their third win of the season.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Avila doubled up Peru State in shooting percentage as they made 27 of 51 field goals for 52.9% which included making 4 of 13 from long range for 30.8%. At the free throw line, the Eagles made 19 of 28 for 67.9%. The Bobcats hit just 19 of 72 for 26.4% which included going 4 of 29 from long range for 13.8%. The 'Cats made 11 fewer trips to the free throw line and made 10 of 17 for 58.8%.
 
The Eagles held a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 44 boards while Peru State had 21. Avila finished the game with 21 assists with the Bobcats having nine. The Eagles blocked four shots while the 'Cats had two.
 
The best part of Peru State's game was that they only committed 12 turnovers while Avila had 27. The Bobcats nabbed 14 steals with the Eagles finishing with nine.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Laure led the team in scoring for the second-straight game as she finished with 14 points. Ensminger added 12 as the only other Bobcat in double figures.
 
Laure also was the team's leading rebounder as she grabbed seven with Beaugard adding four. Also, Laure dished out a team-high three assists with Daniel and Ensminger handing out two each. Ensminger and Kiley Guerue (Morrill) each had three steals with Beaugard, Daniel, Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will have two games this coming week. On Wednesday, Peru State will be at home hosting Grand View University at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are currently 6-10 overall and 3-7 in the Heart. This will end the first round of conference play.
 
That evening, during halftime of the women's game, the Auburn Public Schools staff will be recognized for being named one of the top five schools in the state of Nebraska. Also, members of the Auburn City Rec's youth basketball league will be in attendance.
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats will begin the second half of conference play when they travel to Fayette, Mo., to take on Central Methodist University. Currently, the Eagles are 14-2 overall and 9-1 in the conference. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central Methodist topped Peru State in November by a score of 100-70.