(Peru, Neb.) – After finally putting together a full 40 minutes of play, the Peru State women's basketball team pulled off a major upset in NAIA Division 1 women's basketball. The Bobcats clawed their way to a 66-62 win over the defending national champions, the MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (MNU) Pioneers on Saturday. The contest was played in the Al Wheeler Activity Center on the Peru State campus.
 
With the win, the Bobcats broke an eight-game losing streak to improve to 5-15 overall and 3-14 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Pioneers fell to 12-7 on the season and 11-5 in the Heart.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Pioneers scored the first two buckets of the game before Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) hit a bucket in the paint after grabbing an offensive rebound to make it 4-2 at the 8:18 mark in the first quarter. MNU would respond with a trey to go up 7-2 and followed with another bucket to lead 9-2. Williams made her second basket of the game off an assist from Stevie Lone Dog (Mission, S.D.) to cut it to 9-4 with 7:14 left in the stanza. MNU would maintain their lead the rest of the quarter and led 15-14 after one period.

 
Second Quarter Action
 
Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) made a pair of free throws to start the scoring in the second period to give Peru State its first lead at 16-15. Williams would follow with a bucket off an assist from Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) and the 'Cats led 18-15 with 8:03 left in the half. The Bobcats had their largest lead at 24-19 after Lone Dog hit a bucket in the paint with 5:05 left in the second ten minutes. Niebrugge would hit a bucket with four seconds on the clock to give Peru State a 31-28 lead at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats only trailed for a little bit in the third quarter when the Pioneers made a three-point play to lead 37-36 with 6:41 left in the stanza. Niebrugge would come down the court and drain a trey off an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) and the 'Cats were back in the lead at 39-37. Williams would extend the Bobcat lead to four with another bucket in the paint after she grabbed an offensive rebound. With 5:32 left in the stanza, Peru State led 41-37.
 
The Pioneers would later tie it at 41-41, but Williams followed with a pair of free throws to break the tie. The teams would basically trade points the rest of the quarter with the 'Cats leading 49-48 after three periods.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
 With 8:15 on the clock, the Pioneers hit a hoop to take a 50-49 lead. It was back and forth with the game being tied three different times in the quarter. It was last tied at 55-55 with 3:44 left in the game. On Peru State's next possession Beaugard grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up to make it 57-55. The 'Cats would end up leading the rest of the way.
 
Peru State would led by as many as six at 62-56 with 1:45 left after Lone Dog hit a bucket in the paint to force a Pioneer time out. MNU would cut the lead to 62-60 before Niebrugge would make a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to four at 64-60 with 30 seconds remaining. The Pioneers would get a couple of attempts at the bucket before Beaugard would grab a defensive rebound and would be fouled. Beaugard could not convert the free throw attempts, but MNU turned the ball over on their possession. Niebrugge would be fouled immediately on the play and nailed two charity attempts to put the 'Cats up by six at 66-60 with six seconds left.
 
The Bobcats would call a timeout to discuss what they wanted to do. Peru State did not foul and MNU would get two shots off with the last one coming at the buzzer. But, the 'Cats had pulled off the biggest upset of their season.

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State made 22 of 62 field goals for 35.5% including hitting just 2 of 11 from long range for 18.2%. The Bobcats did convert on 20 of 30 free throws for 66.7%. MNU made 24 of 65 field goal attempts for 36.9% including making just 2 of 19 from behind the arc for 10.5%. The Pioneers made 12 of 15 charity attempts for 80%.
 
MidAmerica Nazarene had a slight rebounding edge, despite having a significant height advantage. MNU grabbed 39 rebounds compared to 37 for the 'Cats. The Pioneers dished out nine assists while Peru State had seven. MNU blocked nine shots in the game.
 
MNU committed 17 turnovers while the Bobcats had 14 errors. The 'Cats grabbed nine steals while the Pioneers had five.
 
Individual Peru State Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures with Niebrugge scoring a game-high 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting and a perfect 7 of 7 at the free throw line. Williams added 20 points while Lone Dog finished with 13.
 
Williams had another double-double as she grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. Lone Dog nearly had a double-double as she had nine boards.
 
Lone Dog and Beaugard each dished out two assists. Niebrugge grabbed a game-high four steals while Kiley Guerue (Morrill) added three steals.
 
Upcoming Peru State games
 
The Bobcats will not have much time to enjoy their win as they will host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) Monday night at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats have dropped their last two contests and are 8-13 on the year and 6-11 in the Heart.

 
On Thursday, the 'Cats will travel to Grand View (Iowa) in Des Moines to play the Vikings at 5:30 p.m. Grand View topped Culver-Stockton Saturday to improve to 10-11 on the year and 7-10 in conference play.
 
Next Saturday, Feb. 4, Peru State will host Benedictine (Kan.) at 2 p.m. The #15-ranked Ravens are on a nine-game winning streak and are now 15-5 for the year and 14-2 in the Heart. Game time will be 2 p.m.
 
It will be a busy day on the Peru State campus as it will be the National Alumni Association's annual chili feed. In addition, at halftime of both games, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling in Glenwood, Iowa, will perform. Also, between games, it will be Senior Day for the Bobcat cheerleaders and basketball teams, along with the recognition of the fall student-athletes.