(Peru, Neb.) – When you shoot 17.7% as a team from the floor, it is highly unlikely a team will win a contest against a good team. That was the case for the Peru State Bobcat women's basketball team as they were colder than it was outdoors and lost to the visiting Evangel Crusaders 75-39 Saturday afternoon.
It was the first Heart of America Athletic Conference game for both teams as Evangel improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Heart. Peru State fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
First Quarter Action
Evangel scored the first eight points of the game before the 'Cats got on the board when
Kiley Guerue (Morrill) hit a bucket on an assist from
Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) at the 6:11 mark. The Crusaders would then go on a 15-0 run before
Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) hit a three off an assist from
Kennedi Cooper (Long Beach, Calif.) to stop the run with 1:17 left in the quarter. Evangel would lead 28-7 at the end of the first ten minutes.
Kiley Guerue scores the first points of the game for Peru State. Guerue shared team-
high scoring honors as she finished with ten points.
Second Quarter Action
The Crusaders would hit a trey to start the second quarter before the Bobcats would score the next eight points which started when
Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) made one of two free throws.
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) would complete an old-fashioned three-point play. Buckets by Guerue and Williams would then pull the 'Cats back to within 16 at 31-15 with 6:28 left in the half. That would be as close as Peru State would get in the quarter as Evangel would lead 42-18 at halftime.
Third Quarter Action
Evangel would score the first six points to start the third stanza before Beaugard would get the first bucket of the period for the Bobcats. The Crusaders would lead 55-22 at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter Action
The final ten minutes would be the most productive for Peru State as they scored 17, but Evangel out-scored the 'Cats as they finished with 20.
EVANGEL GAME BOOK
Team Statistics
Evangel made 28 of 64 field goals for 43.8% which included making 5 of 15 from long range for 33.3%. They connected on 14 of 21 free throws for 66.7%. The Bobcats made just 11 of 62 field goal tries for 17.7% and were worse from behind the arc as they made just 3 of 20 attempts for 15%. Peru State did make 14 of 23 free throws for 60.9%.
The Crusaders had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 53 boards compared to Peru State's 36. Evangel tripled up the 'Cats on assists as they finished with 15 while the Bobcats had five. Both teams had 20 turnovers. Evangel blocked six shots while Peru State was credited with one. The Crusaders had 12 steals while the 'Cats stole eight.
Maddy McPhillips hits a trey early in the game for the 'Cats. McPhillips shared team-
high scoring with Guerue with ten points.
Individual Statistics
McPhillips and Guerue both came off the bench to lead Peru State with ten points each. Cooper also came off the bench to add six points.
Kyle Johnson (Honolulu) had eight rebounds to lead the team while Guerue added seven. Williams finished with six boards.
Brooke Maeda (Honolulu), Niebrugge, Cooper,
Deja Cato (Pontiac, Mich.), and
Destany Ross (Gretna) were each credited with one assist.
Beaugard had the lone blocked shot while Maeda led the team with three steals.
Upcoming Games
The 'Cats are playing an exhibition against its sister college Wayne State today at 3 p.m. The Wildcats opened with a 69-56 win over the University of Nebraska @ Kearney Saturday.
Peru State will play two more Heart games this coming week. On Wednesday, they will host the Missouri Valley Vikings at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings have started the season 4-0 and won their conference opener on Saturday with a 78-47 win over Culver-Stockton (Mo.).
On Saturday, Nov. 19, the 'Cats will travel to Olathe, Kan., to face MidAmerica Nazarene who opened their season with an 83-69 win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) Saturday afternoon.
