(Peru, Neb.) – The Baker University Wildcats were not good host Wednesday night as they thumped the visiting Peru State Bobcats 85-43 in Baldwin City, Kan.
With the win, the Wildcats – who were receiving votes in the most recent coaches' poll, improved to 21-7 overall and 15-6 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State fell to 6-23 overall and 3-18 in the Heart. There is one game remaining in the regular season and it is important to both teams in terms of post-season tournament play.
First Quarter Action Peru State was on the board first when the Jackies worked together.
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) dished an assist to
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) who hit a bucket off a Wildcat turnover. That must have made Baker mad as they went on a 19-0 run and led 19-2 with 3:51 left in the quarter.
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) hit a bucket and then grabbed a defensive rebound which was followed by a bucket by Beaugard on the assist from Laure.
Celine Jolicoeur (Elmont, N.Y.) scored in the paint to make it 19-8 with 27 seconds left. At the end of the first, Baker led 21-9.
Rashaun Casey led
Peru State with
eight points Second Quarter Action After the Wildcats scored the first bucket of the second quarter, Jolicouer hit a bucket to keep Peru State within 12. However, Baker blew to a 46-21 lead at the end of the half.
Third Quarter Action Neither team scored for over three minutes to start the second half before Jolicouer had the first bucket at the 6:47 mark. Baker extended its lead to 39 at the end of the third as the Wildcats led 66-27.
Fourth Quarter Action The Wildcats jumped to a 40-point lead at 73-33 with 7:05 remaining and Baker led by as many as 45 in the quarter.
BAKER GAME BOOK Team Statistics Baker was hot, Peru State was not. The Wildcats made 32 of 63 field goals for 50.8% which included making 7 of 16 from long range for 43.8%. At the free throw line, Baker only missed one free throw as they went 14 of 15 for 93.3%. The Bobcats made 15 of 56 field goal tries for 26.8% and threw in 5 of 22 from behind the arc for 22.7%. At the charity stripe, Peru State made 8 of 13 for 61.5%.
Heather Brekkie finished
with seven points The much taller Wildcats grabbed 46 rebounds compared to Peru State's 27. Baker tripled up the Bobcats in assists with 15 while Peru State had five. The Bobcats had one of their poorer nights handling the ball as they had 18 turnovers compared to Baker's 12. Peru State blocked three shots while Baker blocked two. The Wildcats had 13 steals while the Bobcats finished with four.
Individual Statistics No Bobcat finished in double figures in the game.
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) came off the bench to lead Peru State with eight points.
Heather Brekke (Sunrise, Fla.) also came off the bench to add seven while Beaugard, Laure, and Jolicouer each finished with six.
Laure and Casey led the team with four rebounds each while Beaugard and
Kiley Guerue (Morrill) each added three. Beaugard and Laure each dished out two assists and the same two led the team in blocked shots with two and one respectively. Beaugard and Casey each had two steals.
Upcoming Games Peru State will have its Senior Day this coming Saturday which is the last regular-season game. Evangel (Mo.) University will be the opponent at 2 p.m. Currently, the Crusaders are 8-18 overall and 7-14 in the Heart. Evangel defeated Peru State on Jan. 11 in Springfield 68-55.
With a win, Peru State would most likely assure themselves of a post-season tournament game on Monday, Feb. 29, at a site to be determined.
Besides Senior Day, it will also be Military Appreciation, Scout, and Red, White, and Blue Day at Peru State. Military personnel with appropriate identification and their families will be admitted free. Boy and Girl Scouts and their leaders in uniform also will be admitted free.
