(Peru, Neb.) – A total team effort, despite dealing with foul trouble and injuries, allowed the Peru State women's basketball team to gain their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) win of the season.
The Bobcats topped visiting Grand View (Iowa) 78-57 Thursday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
Peru State improved to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the Heart. The Vikings fell to 3-5 overall and are now 2-4 in conference play.
Kiley Guerue nails a trey early in the game.
Guerue finished with a career-high
17 points.
First Quarter Action
The first quarter was tight throughout. After the Vikings scored the first bucket of the contest to lead 2-0, at the 8:45 mark,
Kiley Guerue (Morrill) hit a bucket on an assist from
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha). After several misses by both teams,
Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) drained a trey to give the 'Cats a 5-2 lead with 7:16 left in the first ten minutes. A field goal by
Deandra Williams (Rosenburg, Texas) on an assist from Beaugard gave Peru State its largest lead of the quarter at 7-2 with 6:38 left.
The Vikings would go on a 6-0 to regain the lead at 8-7, but on the next Peru State possession,
Ashley Flores (Wittier, Calif.) scored a bucket on an assist from Beaugard with 3:34 remaining. Grand View came down and retook the lead at 10-9, but Niebrugge would hit a three-pointer on the 'Cats next possession on an assist from
Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) to give what would be the lead for good at 12-10. Peru State would lead 17-15 after the first ten minutes.
Second Quarter Action
Jackie Robles drives to the bucket early in the first half. Robles
scored a season-high 18 points to lead the team.
Guerue would have two buckets sandwiched around a bucket by Williams to put Peru State up by eight at 23-15 with 8:43 left in the half. The 'Cats would slowly increase their lead in the quarter and eventually led 44-28 as Maeda hit a bucket with seconds remaining in the first 20 minutes.
Third Quarter Action
A basket by Maeda and then one by Guerue on an assist from Maeda put Peru State up by 20 for the first time at 48-28 with 9:04 left in the third quarter. The 'Cats led by as many as 22 at the 5:52 mark after
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) hit a pair of free throws.
Flores would hit the last bucket of the quarter with 50 seconds left and the Bobcats led 59-42 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter Action
Peru State would again lead by as many as 22 at 64-42 at the 8:17 mark in the final stanza when
Kyle Johnson (Honolulu) hit a trey after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Grand View would be as close as 15 at 72-57 with 1:50 left, but Niebrugge, Robles, and
Deja Cato (Pontiac, Mich.) would each hit a pair of free throws for the final six points of the game.
GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
Team Statistics
Abigail Niebrugge plays defense against the VIkings.
Niebrugge finished with 17 points and a game-high
five steals.
For one of few times this season, the Bobcats out-shot their opponents. The 'Cats made 29 of 75 attempts for 38.7% and was even better from behind the arc as they made 9 of 20 for 45%. Peru State made 11 of 15 free throws of 73.3%. Grand View was 18 of 60 for 30% and made just 3 of 16 three-point tries for 18.8%. The Vikings made 18 of 30 charity tosses for 60%.
Peru State was strong on the boards as they out-rebounded their taller opponents 45-41. The 'Cats had 18 assists compared to seven for the Vikings.
Grand View had 17 turnovers while the Bobcats had 15 miscues. The Vikings blocked three Peru State shots while the 'Cats did not have any blocks. The Bobcats grabbed 12 steals while Grand View had seven.
Individual Statistics
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Robles who came off the bench to score a game-high 18. Niebrugge and Guerue each scored 17 while Williams added 12.
Williams tied for game-high honors in rebounding as she grabbed 11 boards to finish the night with a double-double on the evening. Niebrugge, Guerue, Johnson, and Flores each grabbed seven rebounds.
Maeda dished out a game-high seven assists while Williams and Beaugard each adding three. Niebrugge grabbed five steals with Guerue nabbing two.
Upcoming Games
The Bobcats will have two more Heart match-ups before the end of 2016. On Saturday, they will travel to Atchison, Kan., to face the Benedictine Ravens. Benedictine dropped a tight contest on the road to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 64-62. The Ravens are now 6-3 overall and are 5-1 in the Heart.
After a week off, Peru State will host one of the league newcomers, Clarke (Iowa), on Saturday, Dec. 10, at noon. The Crusaders are 5-3 overall and are 2-3 in the Heart.
The December 10 contest will be "Ugly Sweater" day at Peru State. In addition, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling will be performing at halftime of each ball game.
