(Peru, Neb.) – If the Bobcat women's basketball team was going to have a chance to make the Heart of America Athletic Conference post-season tournament, they needed to win on Saturday. And win they did over the visiting Avila University Eagles 66-58 in front of a nice alumni crowd.
With the win, the 'Cats improved to 6-22 overall and 3-17 in the Heart – one full game ahead of Avila. The Eagles fell to 3-24 and 2-18 in conference play. Both teams have two regular-season games remaining before the tournament begins.
Rashaun Casey goes for one of her six treys with an
assist from Sydney Wilkinson. Casey led all scorers
with 24 points. First Quarter Action After Avila hit the opening bucket,
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) finally put the Bobcats on the scoreboard with 6:58 left in the quarter. The Eagles would score the next six points to lead 8-2 before
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) would drain a trey on an assist from
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) with 4:10 to go. Avila would get a two-pointer to extend the lead to 10-5 before Casey would hit her second-straight three-pointer, this time coming on an assist from
Kiley Guerue (Morrill). Another Avila bucket would be followed by a pair of Casey free throws and then Beaugard would hit a two-pointer to end the quarter with the teams tied at 12.
Second Quarter Action Avila regained the lead to start the second quarter only to see Beaugard, on an assist from Guerue, tie it at 14 all with 8:37 remaining. Peru State would finally have its first lead of the game at 20-18 with 5:02 left in the half after Beaugard completed an old-fashioned three-point play. Beaugard would extend the lead on the next Bobcat possession, this time coming on an assist from Laure. The Eagles would go on a 6-0 run at that point and led 24-22 with 2:18 remaining in the first half. Another Casey trey, this time on an assist from
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) would put the 'Cats up 25-24. Avila countered with a trey which Casey countered with a three-pointer of her own on an assist from
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.). At that point, the Bobcats led 28-27. Casey continued her first-half hot streak as she hit another three-pointer with an assist from Robles. The Eagles would hit one of two free throws to end the half with Peru State leading 31-28.
Third Quarter Action The Eagles started the third quarter with an 8-0 run to go up 36-31 with 6:05 left in the period.
Kealy Ensminger (Homer) would stop the run with a trey on an assist from Wilkinson. Later, Ensminger would hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 36-36 at the 4:20 mark. The teams would trade buckets during the rest of the quarter with Avila making a three-pointer to end the quarter while taking a 45-44 lead into the final stanza.
Jackie Beaugard brings the ball down
the court. Beaugard had another
double-double as she had 16
points and a game-high
11 rebounds Fourth Quarter Action Robles would get Peru State going in the fourth quarter as she hit a trey off an assist from Wilkinson and the 'Cats would never relinquish the lead the rest of the game. The Bobcats' largest lead came near the end of the contest when
Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) hit a pair of free throws to make it 66-55. The Eagles would get a trey to end the game with the 'Cats prevailing 66-58.
AVILA GAME BOOK Team Statistics Avila actually shot better than Peru State, but the Bobcats were able to take 25 more shots, basically because the Eagles were turnover-prone. The Eagles made 22 of 46 field goals for 47.8% which included making 3 of 9 from long range for 33.3%. At the free throw line, Avila made 11 of 17 for 64.7%. The 'Cats made 20 of 71 field goals for 28.2% including making 12 of 44 from long range for 27.3%. At the charity stripe, Peru State made 14 of 20 for 70%.
The much-taller Eagles controlled the boards as they had 42 rebounds compared to Peru State's 28. The Bobcats dished out 13 assists while Avila had 15. The big difference in the contest was that the Bobcats forced 34 Avila turnovers while only committing 14. Avila blocked four shots with the Bobcats blocking five. The Eagles had six steals while Peru State stole 19 Avila passes.
Individual Statistics Three Bobcats finished in double figures. Peru State was led by Casey who finished with a game-high 24 points. Beaugard added 16 with Robles finishing with 15.
Beaugard ended the game with another double-double as she had a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the 'Cats. Robles added four boards.
Wilkinson dished out a game-high five assists with Guerue added three. Beaugard and Wilkinson, the two-shortest players on the court for the 'Cats, each finished with two blocks. Guerue was credited for the other block. Robles had a game- and career-high eight steals with Guerue nabbing four.
Jackie Robles finished with
15 points for Peru State Upcoming Games While the Avila win was a must-win, the Bobcats could seal their chances of a post-season conference bid with a win in one of their two remaining regular-season games.
On Wednesday, Peru State will travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on the Wildcats of Baker University at 5:30 p.m. Baker is 14-6 in the Heart and 20-7 overall. The Wildcats were receiving votes in the latest coaches' poll.
Saturday, Feb. 27, will be the last regular-season contest for the 'Cats as they host Evangel University at 2 p.m. The Crusaders are 8-17 overall and 7-13 in the Heart and have lost two in a row.
It will be Senior Day on Saturday. It will also be Military Appreciation Day and Scout Recognition Day with all area military personnel and their families admitted free. Scouts and their leaders in uniform will be admitted free. Peru State's Student Athlete Advisory Council will also be sponsoring Red, White, and Blue Day with anyone wearing the colors getting a ticket for a chance at a $100+ prize package. Additional tickets will be sold as well.
