(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing by as many as 12 in the third quarter, the Peru State women came all the way back by the end of the contest to force an overtime. However, their effort came up short as the visiting Missouri Valley Vikings remained perfect on the season as they won 62-61.
 
The Vikings are now 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 2-3 on the season and are 0-2 in the Heart.

 
First Quarter Action
 
Peru State jumped to a 4-0 lead on buckets by Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) and Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas). Beaugard's came off an assist from Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) while Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up. The Vikings would tie it at 4-4 and eventually lead 7-4 before the 'Cats would later tie it at 7-7 and then go ahead by one as Niebrugge put in a pair of free throws. After a couple of more ties with the last coming at 14-14, Missouri Valley went on a 6-1 run to end the quarter with a 20-15 lead.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The Vikings hit the first two buckets of the second quarter to lead 24-15 before Niebrugge hit a three-pointer on an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) at the 7:51 mark on the stanza. Peru State would be as close as five at 27-22 after Beaugard made one of two free throws at the 6:12 mark. Mo Valley would extend their lead to ten at 32-22 before Destany Ross (Gretna) hit a trey coming off an assist from Beaugard with 1:34 left in the first half. At the end of the second quarter, the Vikings led by eight at 34-26.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
After Missouri Valley hit a bucket to open the quarter, Peru State got a bucket from Kennedi Cooper in the paint on an assist from Beaugard with 7:44 left in the stanza. Williams would follow with a bucket and with 5:30 left in the quarter, the 'Cats had pulled with six at 36-30.
 
Mo Valley would extend their lead to 42-30, their largest of the game with 1:11 left in the quarter. Maeda would get a trey with 1:00 left in the quarter which was later followed by another three-pointer by Ross with seconds remaining off an assist from Kiley Guerue (Morrill) to cut the deficit to six at 42-36 at the end of the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action

 
The Vikings maintained their lead in the game until 3:03 left when Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) hit a three-pointer to give Peru State its first lead since the first quarter at 51-50. The Vikings would score the next four points to go back up 54-51 with 1:45 left in regulation. With 1:30 left, Robles hit another trey, this time on assist from Maeda to tie it at 54-54.
 
Both teams had several opportunities to score, but neither could do so forcing the overtime.
 
Overtime Action
 
Peru State drew first blood in the extra five-minute period as Robles hit a three-pointer coming on an assist from Williams with 4:41 left. The Vikings would come back with a two-pointer and then a trey to go out 59-57 with 3:34 left. Niebrugge would tie it with a bucket in the paint only to see the Vikings come down the court and hit a three-pointer. With 1:28 left in overtime, Williams put in a bucket in the paint off an assist from Robles to make it 62-61. The teams traded two missed buckets each with the Vikings grabbing the rebound off a Peru State missed shot with four seconds to go.
 
MO VALLEY GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Missouri Valley enjoyed a distinct advantage shooting-wise as they made 23 of 56 field goals for 41.1% which including making three of ten from long range for 30%. The Vikings also made more trips to the free throw line and connected on 13 of 23 for 56.5%. Peru State converted on just 22 of 68 from the floor for 32.4%, but were better from behind the arc as they made nine of 21 for 42.9%. The 'Cats made 50% of their 16 tries at the charity stripe.
 
The taller Vikings also had a big rebounding advantage over the Bobcats as they grabbed 46 rebounds compared to Peru State's 31. The assists were nearly even as Peru State had 11 while Mo Valley finished with nine.
 
Peru State did force 25 turnovers on the Vikings while having 15 of their own. The Vikings were credited with six blocked shots while the 'Cats did not have any in the game. Missouri Valley had eight steals compared to six for the Bobcats.
 
Individual Statistics
 

Three Bobcats finished in double figures with Niebrugge leading the efforts with 16 while Williams and Robles each added 12.
 
Williams finished with a double-double as she had a team-high ten boards while Beaugard grabbed seven. Beaugard had a game-high four assists while Williams and Maeda each added two. Beaugard and Deja Cato (Pontiac, Mich.) each nabbed two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be on the road for several games. On Saturday, the 'Cats will be in Olathe, Kan., to take on MidAmerica Nazarene at 2 p.m. The Pioneers have only played one game this season which was a conference game that they won 83-69 over Mount Mercy (Iowa).
 
On Tuesday, Nov. 22, the Bobcats will make the long trip to Canton, Mo., to face Culver-Stockton at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats are presently 1-3 on the year and are 0-1 in the Heart having lost to Missouri Valley 78-47 previously.