(Peru, Neb.) – After tying the game with 46 seconds left at 64-64, the Peru State women's basketball team could not pull out the win. The visiting Mount Mercy (Iowa) Mustangs scored three points late to take the 67-64 win.
Mount Mercy improved to 8-9 overall on the season and are now 5-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Bobcats fell to 4-12 overall and dropped to 2-11 in the Heart after losing their fifth consecutive contest.
First Quarter Action
Mount Mercy jumped to a 4-0 lead forcing a quick timeout by the Bobcats' coaching staff. It was a good timeout as out of it
Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) hit a jumper in the paint to put Peru State on the board at the 9:28 mark. After a turnover and several offensive rebounds, Williams scored another bucket coming off an assist from
Stevie Lone Dog (Mission, S.D.) to tie it at 4-4 with 7:52 to go in the first ten minutes. The Mustangs would then outscore Peru State 15 to 5 in the rest of the quarter to lead 19-10 at the end of the first stanza.
Deandra Williams goes for two
of her team-high 18 points
Second Quarter Action
Destany Ross (Gretna) would hit a three-pointer to cut into the Mustang lead with 9:15 remaining before the half. Mount Mercy would build their lead to ten at 23-13 before Peru State would claw back. A bucket by
Deja Cato (Pontiac, Mich.) with 2:16 left in the quarter pulled the 'Cats back within four at 30-26. That would be as close as the Bobcats would be as Mount Mercy would lead by six at halftime at 34-28.
Third Quarter Action
Mount Mercy maintained their lead for most of the third period until Cato made a pair of free throws to tie it at 44-44 with 3:10 left in the quarter. The teams would trade points and the game would again be tied at 49-49 after Lone Dog made a pair of free throws with 1:11 left in the stanza. A bucket by the Mustangs with 49 ticks left on the clock gave Mount Mercy a 51-49 lead going into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter Action
Kyle Johnson (Honolulu) knotted the game with a bucket with 7:56 left in the game at 51-51. The game would later be tied at 53-53, 54-54, 56-56, and 58-58 before Mount Mercy would score the next six points to lead 64-58 with 2:26 left in the game. With 1:27 remaining, Niebrugge nailed a trey to make it 64-61. After a defensive rebound, Cato would dish the ball to Niebrugge who hit another three-pointer to tie it at 64-64 with 46 seconds left. The Mustangs would make one of two free throws after a foul was whistled on the Bobcats. With ten seconds remaining, a three-point attempt by the 'Cats fell short and Mount Mercy easily went down the court to score another two points for the 67-64 win.
MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
Team Statistics
The Mustangs made 22 of 52 field goals for 42.3% which included making 2 of 10 from behind the arc for 20%. At the charity stripe, Mount Mercy made 21 of 30 for 70%. Peru State made 22 of 59 field goal attempts for 37.3% including hitting 10 of 33 from long range for 30.3%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 10 of 15 for 66.7%.
Mount Mercy had a rebounding edge at 39 to 29 while Peru State led in assists 12 to 11. Both teams had trouble handling the ball as the Mustangs had 22 turnovers while the Bobcats finished with 19 errors.
Abigail Niebrugge takes an elbow and later while trying to defend.
Niebrugge finished the contest with 15 points and five steals.
Peru State was credited with one block and ten steals while Mount Mercy had seven steals.
Individual Statistics
Two Bobcats finished in double-digit scoring as Williams had 18 points while Niebrugge added 15.
Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) contributed six. All of the Bobcats suiting up were on the scoreboard.
Williams led the team with eight rebounds while Lone Dog contributed seven.
Cato led the team with a game-high five assists while Williams and Niebrugge each had two. Williams was credited with the lone blocked shot. Niebrugge grabbed five steals with Ross nabbing two.
Upcoming Contests
Peru State will be back in action with three consecutive road trips. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Bobcats will be in Marshall, Mo., to take on the Vikings at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are currently 7-9 overall and 3-9 in conference play.
Then, on Saturday, Jan. 21, will head to Springfield, Mo., to face the Crusaders of Evangel. The Crusaders are 6-10 on the season and will play two games before Peru State heads southeast. In the Heart, Evangel is 5-8.
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the 'Cats will go to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on William Penn. The Statesmen are 10-6 overall and 8-4 in the Heart.
The ranked Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) will the home opponent when Peru State plays back in the Al Wheeler Activity Center on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m.
