(Peru, Neb.) – It was the fourth quarter which made the difference as the Graceland Yellowjackets earned their first win in conference play by topping Peru State 80-70 Wednesday night in Lamoni, Iowa.
Graceland improved to 2-18 overall and are now 1-14 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Bobcats fell to 5-18 overall and are 2-13 in the Heart.
First Quarter Action The Yellowjackets score the first five points of the game before
Madara Laure (Riga, Latvia) put Peru State on the scoreboard with a bucket at the 7:09 mark in the first quarter. After another two-pointer by Graceland, Laure would hit a trey on an assist from
Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) to make it 7-5. An 8-0 Graceland run would give the Yellowjackets their first double-digit lead at 15-5 forcing the 'Cats to play from behind. After trailing 19-9 later in the quarter, Peru State made a comeback which started with a three-pointer from
Justice Daniel (Olathe, Kan.) on an assist from Robles. Robles would follow with a two-pointer on an assist from
Sydney Wilkinson (St. Joseph, Mo.) and now it was 19-14 with 2:18 left in the first ten minutes.
Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) would get a bucket on an assist from Daniel and then Daniel hit a field goal and suddenly the Bobcats were back within one at 19-18 with 1:38 remaining. Graceland would score a bucket to have a 21-18 lead after ten minutes.
Second Quarter Action Wilkinson would dish an assist to Laure who hit a trey to tie the game at 21-21 with 8:28 left in the half. But, once again, Graceland would build up a double-digit lead and eventually led by 11 at 38-27 with 1:34 left in the half. Once again, Peru State would make a comeback. Beaugard would get two off an assist from Laure and then Robles would hit a trey, also on an assist from Laure making it 38-32 with 1:08 remaining. Beaugard would end the half making one of two free throws and Peru State would trail 38-33 at halftime.
Third Quarter Action Just as the first quarter started, Graceland would score the first points of the quarter, this time seven, to lead 45-33 before a trey by Robles on an assist from
Rashaun Casey (Rogers, Ark.) stopped the run. The Yellowjackets would lead by as many as 12 at 52-40 with 4:26 left in the third before Peru State would once again, try to get back into the game. At the end of the quarter Laure would hit a three- and two-pointer with the first coming off an assist from Wilkinson and the 'Cats went into the last stanza trailing by one at 57-56.
Fourth Quarter Action An 11-0 run by the 'Jackets to start the fourth proved to be more than Peru State could handle. Laure hit the Bobcats' first bucket with just 4:42 left in the game to make it 68-58. Later in the quarter, a trey by Daniel would cut the deficit to three at 73-70, but that would be as close as the 'Cats would get in the game.
GRACELAND GAME BOOK Team Statistics Graceland made 29 of 61 field goals for 47.5% including hitting 2 of 11 from behind the arc for 18.2%. At the free throw line, the Yellowjackets made 20 of 34 for 58.8%. The Bobcats hit 27 of 85 attempts for 31.8% and actually shot better from long range making 12 of 35 for 34.3%. Peru State struggled at the free throw line making just 4 of 17 for 23.5%.
The 'Jackets had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 62 boards compared to 45 for Peru State. Graceland dished out 18 assists while the Bobcats had 14. The 'Cats did commit fewer turnovers as they had 15 while Graceland had 26. The Yellowjackets blocked four shots while Peru State did not have any in the contest. The Bobcats did get 19 steals while Graceland had nine.
Individual Statistics Peru State had four players in double figures and were led by Laure who scored 19 points. Robles finished with 18 while Daniel and Beaugard added 14 and 11 respectively.
Beaugard led the team with eight rebounds while Robles,
Samantha Zavala (Sanger, Calif.), and
Kiley Guerue (Morrill) each added six.
Wilkinson dished out six assists with Laure and Robles being credited with two each. Daniel grabbed six steals with Wilkinson nabbing five. Robles and Beaugard finished with four and three respectively.
Upcoming Games The Bobcats will host Culver-Stockton College Saturday at 2 p.m. The Wildcats, who are receiving votes, lost a close one at home Wednesday night to Central Methodist 78-77 to fall to 17-6 overall and 10-5 in the Heart. Culver-Stockton topped Peru State 71-52 in Canton, Mo., in December.
Saturday's game will be "Western Day" for all in attendance. The event, which is sponsored by the Student Athlete Advisory Council, encourages fans from both teams to dress in their best Western attire for a chance for several prizes.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 10, Peru State will be hosting MidAmerica Nazarene University in a game beginning at 5:30 p.m. The eighth-ranked Pioneers are 18-4 overall and 13-2 in the Heart and won Wednesday night over Avila University for their fourth win in a row.
