(Peru, Neb.) – After the Bobcat women's basketball team pulled with nine at 53-44 in the fourth quarter, the #8 MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) women outscored the 'Cats 30 to 11 in the final eight minutes to take an 83-55 win.
The Pioneers improved to 20-4 overall and 15-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with the win. Peru State fell to 5-20 and 2-15 in conference play.
Justice Daniel led the team
with 18 points First Quarter Action Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) put Peru State on the board first at the 9:02 mark in the game. MNU would tie it and later with 6:17 left,
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) hit a trey off an assist from
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) to put the 'Cats up 5-2. Peru State would have its largest lead at 9-5 after Daniel made one of two free throws with 4:33 remaining in the first ten minutes. The Pioneers would score the next five points to take their first lead at 10-9 with 1:11 to go. After Laure made one of two free throws to tie it at 10-10, MNU would hit a trey with four seconds left to go up 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter Action The Pioneers would score the first ten points of the second stanza before Casey would hit a three-pointer to stop the run at the 6:13 mark. At the end of the first half, MNU would lead 40-23.
Third Quarter Action The teams would exchange buckets and points throughout the third quarter with Peru State outscoring the Pioneers by one. At the end of 30 minutes, MNU led 53-37.
Fourth Quarter Action A field goal by
Kealy Ensminger (Homer) off an assist from Daniel put Peru State on the scoreboard first in the final period.
Kiley Guerue (Morrill) would hit a pair of free throws and the 'Cats now trailed 53-41 with 8:55 left in the game. A trey by Daniel would get the Bobcats back within single digits at 53-44, but that is when the Pioneers caught fire. From that point on, MNU outscored Peru State 30 to 11 to make the final score 83-55.
Kiley Guerue pulls down one of her six rebounds in the contestMIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOKTeam Statistics MNU made 34 of 79 field goal attempts for 43% which included hitting 7 of 21 from long range for 33.3%. At the free throw line, the Pioneers went 8 of 12 for 66.7%. Peru State made 18 of 64 field goal tries for 28.1% and connected on 8 of 29 from behind the arc for 27.6%.
The much-taller Pioneers more than doubled up the Bobcats on the boards as MNU grabbed 53 rebounds while Peru State had 24. MNU also doubled up the 'Cats on assists as they had 18 with Peru State finishing with nine. Both teams committed 15 turnovers. The Pioneers blocked five shots with Peru State having one. MNU nabbed seven steals with the 'Cats having just five.
Individual Statistics Two Bobcats finished in double figures with Daniel leading the way with 18 points while Casey added 11. Laure and Guerue each had six rebounds to lead the team.
Daniel dished out three assists with Laure and
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) each had two. Casey was credited with a blocked shot. Daniel led the team with four steals while Laure added one.
Upcoming Games Peru State will be traveling to Marshall, Mo., on Saturday to take on Missouri Valley College at 2 p.m. Presently, the Vikings are 9-12 overall and 7-10 in the Heart. One of the two Bobcat conference wins is over the Vikings as Peru State defeated the Vikings 75-70 at home on Jan. 9.
Next Wednesday night, Feb. 17, the Bobcats will be on the road again when they face Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are 11-12 on the year and 8-9 in conference play. Grand View defeated Peru State in the AWAC in January 71-58.
