(Peru, Neb.) – When your opponent shoots 16% better than your team does, it tends to be a problem. That is what happened Monday night when the Peru State women dropped a home contest to William Penn (WPU) 80-58 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
 
With the win, the Statesmen improved to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The 'Cats fell to 2-6 overall and 0-5 in the Heart.
 
First Quarter Action

 
After WPU scored the first basket of the game, Kiley Guerue (Morrill) came back to hit a trey to put the Bobcats up on top 3-2 at the 9:03 point in the first quarter. After a Statesmen turnover, Guerue came back with another three-pointer, this time coming off an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) to extend the lead to 6-2. The Statesmen would score the next five points to lead 7-6 before Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) would drain a trey and Peru State was up again 9-7 with 5:50 left in the stanza.
 
WPU would tie it only to see Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) grab an offensive rebound and put it back up to put Peru State up for what would be the last time at 11-9 with 5:19 to go in the first ten minutes. The Statesmen would score the next 11 points and never trail the rest of the game.
 
The score at the end of the first period was 23-15 WPU.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Back-to-back buckets by Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) to start the second quarter pulled Peru State to within four at 23-19 with 8:30 left in the second. The 'Cats would only be able to score another ten points in the stanza while WPU put up 25 to lead 48-29 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Peru State would slowly cut into the Statesmens' lead in the third period and were within single digits at the 2:32 mark after Guerue made one of two free throws to make it 52-43. At the end of the period, WPU would lead 58-46.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Statesmen would nearly double the scoring on the 'Cats in the fourth quarter as they scored 22 compared to 12 for Peru State on their way to the 80-58 win.

WM PENN GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
WPU made 29 of 67 field goals for 43.3% including making 4 of 13 from long range for 30.8%. At the charity stripe, the Statesmen made 18 of 28 tries for 64.3%. Peru State made 20 of 72 field goal attempts for 27.8% and hit 5 of 21 three-point tries for 23.8%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 13 of 25 for 56%.
 
The rebounds were dead even at 47 apiece. WPU had 13 assists compared to ten for the Bobcats. The Statesmen committed 16 turnovers while Peru State had 22 miscues.
 
The Statesmen blocked five Peru State shots while the Bobcats had two blocks. WPU more than doubled up the steals as they had 13 compared to six for the 'Cats.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Two Bobcats finished in double figures. Williams led the team with 13 while Guerue finished with 11. Ashley Flores (Wittier, Calif.) added eight while Beaugard had seven.
 
Williams finished the night with a double-double as she grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds with Guerue adding eight.
 
Deja Cato (Pontiac, Mich.) led the team with four steals with Maeda dishing out two. Flores and Williams were each credited with one blocked shot. Williams also lead the team with a game-high three steals with Beaugard nabbing two.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats have three more Heart games in December before taking a winter break. On Thursday, Peru State will be hosting Grand View at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference having lost their last three in a row.
 
On Saturday, Peru State travels to Atchison, Kan., to face Benedictine. The Ravens are 6-2 overall and are perfect in the Heart at 5-0. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The following Saturday, Dec. 10, the 'Cats will host Heart newcomer Clarke (Iowa) at 2 p.m. The Crusaders are presently 5-3 overall and are 2-3 in the Heart having won their last two contests. On Dec. 10, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling out of Shenandoah, Iowa, will perform at halftime of both contests.