(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team ended the first half of the Heart of America Athletic Conference season with a 71-58 loss at home at the hands of the Grand View University Vikings.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 7-10 overall and 4-7 in the Heart while the Bobcats fell to 5-14 and 2-9.
Madara Laure goes for a three late in the game. Laure led
Peru State with 12 points. First Quarter Action Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) hit the first bucket of the game and gave Peru State what would be its only lead of the game with 8:57 left in the first. The Vikings would score the next four points before
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) hit a bucket on an assist from
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia). Grand View would counter with a bucket with Laure this time getting a score on an assist from
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.). With score tied 6-6 with 5:24 left in the first ten minutes, Grand View went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter with a 16-8 lead.
Second Quarter Action Peru State stayed within single digits for most of the early part of the second quarter until the Vikings went ahead 26-16 at the 5:57 mark. Wilkinson dished an assist to
Kealy Ensminger (Homer) who drained a trey to pull the 'Cats back with seven at 26-19. The Vikings would extend the lead to 16 at 36-20 with 1:46 left in the half.
The Bobcats would have a little rally in them as Wilkinson hit a pair of free throws and followed it with a bucket to cut it to 36-24.
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) would make one of two free throws to end the half with Peru State trailing 36-25.
Third Quarter Action After Grand View hit the first bucket of the third stanza, Laure hit a two-pointer which was followed by a Wilkinson bucket to make it 38-29. Laure dished out the assist to Wilkinson who was fouled on the play, but could not complete the old-fashioned three-point play. The Vikings then went on an 11-0 run to put the score at 49-29 with 4:35.
Celine Jolicoeur goes for two of
her 11 points on the night Peru State did get back with 15 late in the third with 43 seconds left after Jolicoeur hit a two-pointer. However, Grand View came back with a trey to end the quarter and led 55-37 after 30 minutes.
Fourth Quarter Action The 'Cats did not give up as they tried to fight back in the fourth period. Laure hit a trey to start the quarter and then after Grand View hit a bucket, Beaugard countered with one of her own. Laure would drain another trey to make it 57-45 and then Jolicoeur hit a three-pointer of her own and suddenly Peru State was back within single digits at 57-48.
Jolicoeur would come back with another bucket and now the Bobcats only trailed by seven at 57-50 with 6:18 left in the game. Grand View countered with a 10-0 run and that would prove to be too much for the 'Cats to make up in the game.
GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK Team Statistics Grand View made 26 of 63 field goals for 41.3% which included hitting 6 of 21 three-point tries for 28.6%. At the charity stripe, the Vikings made 13 of 19 for 68.4%. The Bobcats struggled shooting again as they made 22 of 67 for 32.8% and were more challenged from behind the arc as they made only 5 of 27 for 18.5%. At the free throw line, Peru State was 9 of 17 for 52.9%.
The much taller Vikings had a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 57 compared to Peru State's 29 rebounds. The 'Cats did have fewer turnovers, 12 to 23 for Grand View, but could not capitalize on that difference. Peru State blocked three shots while the Vikings had two. Grand View had nine steals with the Bobcats finishing with 13.
Sydney Wilkinson takes the ball
to the hoop against a much-
taller Viking. Wilkinson scored
ten points and blocked two
shots - yes, two blocks! Individual Statistics Laure led the Bobcats in scoring with 12 points on 5 of 10 shooting. Jolicoeur and Wilkinson added 11 and ten respectively. Ensminger finished with nine while Beaugard added eight.
Beaugard led Peru State in rebounding with eight with
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) adding seven.
Laure and Wilkinson each dished out two assists. Beaugard and Ensminger each had three steals with Wilkinson adding two. One of the shortest players on the court, if not the shortest, Wilkinson, was credited with two blocked shots with Jolicoeur adding one.
Upcoming Games Peru State travels to Fayette, Mo., to take on Central Methodist University on Saturday at 2 p.m. The 23
rd-ranked Eagles are currently 15-2 overall and 10-1 in the Heart having won Wednesday night at home over 8
th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University. Central Methodist defeated Peru State in Peru early in December 100-70.
Next Wednesday, the Bobcats will host 11
th-ranked Benedictine University at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens dropped their Wednesday night game to Baker (Kan.) University 65-48 and are 16-3 overall and 8-3 in conference play.
