(Peru, Neb.) – The 18
th-ranked Benedictine College Ravens took the series sweep Wednesday night with an 82-58 win over the Peru State women's basketball team in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
With the win, the Ravens improved to 18-3 overall and 10-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State extended its losing streak to six – its longest of the season – and fell to 5-16 overall and 2-11 in the Heart.
First Quarter Action Benedictine scored the first ten points of the game before the Bobcats got on the board with a field goal by
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) with 5:40 to go in the first quarter. On Peru State's next possession,
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) hit a three-pointer off an assist from
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) to cut the deficit in half at 10-5. The 'Cats would later in the quarter be down by five at 14-9 after
Celine Jolicoeur (Elmont, N.Y.) hit a bucket. That five-point deficit would be as close as Peru State would be the rest of the game as the Ravens would stretch their lead to ten at 19-9 at the end of the first ten minutes.
Madara Laure his a trey early in the game. Laure finished
with 11 points. Second Quarter Action The Ravens would hit a trey to start the second quarter to lead 22-9.
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) would get a bucket to cut the lead to 11 at 22-11 with 8:50 left in the first half. Benedictine would move out to a 32-13 lead before the 'Cats would make a little run. Wilkinson would hit another bucket, this time on an assist from
Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) and then
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) drained a trey on an assist from Robles. With 4:53 left in the quarter, Laure hit a field goal and Peru State now was back within 12 at 32-20. The Bobcats could not sustain their run as Benedictine would go on a 10-4 run to end the half with a 42-24 lead.
Third Quarter Action Casey would start the third stanza with another trey, but the Ravens would then on an 11-0 run to increase their lead to 53-27 with 7:09 left in the period. Later in the quarter with 3:10 left, Laure would hit a triple to make it 60-43 left. That deficit would be matched later when Wilkinson made one of two free throws, but once again, another Benedictine 12-1 run to end the quarter leading 72-45.
Fourth Quarter Action The fourth quarter would be low scoring for both teams with the Bobcats outscoring Benedictine 13-10 in the period. The Ravens had their largest lead of the game at 82-50 before the Bobcats would score the final eight points of the game.
BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK Team Statistics The Ravens were hot in the contest as they made 28 of 59 field goals for 47.5% including making 5 of 19 from behind the arc for 26.3%. At the free throw line, Benedictine made 21 of 30 for 70%. Peru State made 18 of 60 field goals for 30% and nearly matched the Ravens from behind the arc as they made 6 of 23 for 26.1%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 16 of 23 for 69.6%.
The much-taller Benedictine team more than doubled up the Bobcats on the boards as they had 49 rebounds while Peru State only grabbed 19. The Ravens dished out 15 assists while Peru State only had eight.
Sydney Wilkinson goes for two against
the Ravens. Wilkinson led the Bobcats
with 12 points. One category won by the 'Cats was the turnover battle as Peru State only committed 13 while the Ravens had 21. This in turn related to steals as Peru State grabbed 16 steals compared to seven for Benedictine. The Bobcats had four blocked shots while Benedictine had one.
Individual Statistics The Bobcat seniors were the only ones in double figures as Wilkinson led the way with 12 points and Laure finishing with 11. Daniel and Casey each added eight.
Wilkinson, the shortest player on the floor, also led the team with a game-high seven rebounds. Jolicoeur added three boards.
Wilkinson and Robles each dished out two assists while Wilkinson added a game-high five steals. Beaugard also grabbed three steals with Daniel adding two. Laure and Jolicoeur each blocked two shots.
Upcoming Games The Bobcats will be back in action on Saturday when they host William Penn University from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Game time with the 9-11 Statesmen is scheduled for 2 p.m. William Penn is 6-7 in the Heart and lost Wednesday night to Missouri Valley.
Next Wednesday, the 'Cats are scheduled to travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to face Graceland University at 5:30 p.m. Presently, the Yellowjackets are 1-17 overall and have yet to win a conference game and are 0-13.
