(Peru, Neb.) – A strong fourth quarter propelled the small, but mighty Peru State women's basketball team to a 59-50 win over the visiting Bellevue Bruins Friday night.
 
The teams were tied 37-37 at the end of the first three periods and the 'Cats outscored the Bruins 22-13 to claim their third win of the season.
 
The small, but mighty reference is two-fold. The 'Cats played with five players during the game as one of their team members was on the bench injured. The second aspect is that the tallest Peru State starter is 5-9 – if that.
 
Peru State evened its record at 3-3 with the win while Bellevue fell to 6-4.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Bruins scored the first six points of the contest and never trailed in the first quarter. Late in the quarter, the Bobcats had pulled back within two at 11-9 when Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a bucket off an assist from Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) with 2:57 left. Bellevue came back to score the last six points and led 17-9 after one quarter.

 
Second Quarter Action
 
Bellevue scored the first bucket of the second quarter to extend their lead to ten at 19-9. Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) responded with a bucket to cut the deficit, but the Bruins came right back down the court to make it 21-11 with 8:02 left in the half.
 
After that point, the Bobcats went on a 10-0 run which started with a bucket by Niebrugge off an assist from McPhillips. Destany Ross (Gretna) then made one of two free throws to cut the lead to seven at 21-14 with 6:29 left. Beath hit a bucket on an assist from Ross and then Niebrugge drained a trey on an assist from McPhillips and suddenly the 'Cats were within two at 21-19 at the 4:33 mark. With 3:03 on the clock, McPhillips would get loose in the paint to tie it at 21-21.
 
The Bruins would stop their scoring drought with a hoop only to see Ross put back an offensive rebound to tie it back up at 23-23. Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) would put Peru State on top at 25-23 with 1:44 left in the half. The only other scoring of the half would come with three seconds remaining when Niebrugge hit a trey off an assist from Ross. The 'Cats led 28-23 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Niebrugge started the scoring in the second half, but then the Bruins caught fire and outscored Peru State 13-0 to go up 36-30 with 2:58 left in the third period. McPhillips stopped Bellevue's scoring run with a three-pointer on an assist from Ross. After Bellevue made one of two free throws to lead 37-33, Maeda drained a couple of free throws to cut the lead to two. With 23 seconds left in the stanza, Ross tied the game at 37-37.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Beath made an old-fashioned three-point play to start the fourth quarter and the 'Cats never trailed the rest of the game.
 
With 48 seconds left in the contest, Peru State had built its lead to ten at 52-42 McPhillips had made a pair of free throws. The rest of the game was basically an opportunity for Peru State to shoot free throws as Bellevue would foul quickly on any possession when the Bobcats had the ball.
 
Niebrugge finished the contest with a pair of free throws before the Bruins conceded.

BELLEVUE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams struggled shooting from the floor with the big difference in the contest coming at the free throw line. Bellevue made 20 of 63 field goals for 31.7% and made just five of 36 three-point attempts for 13.9%. At the free throw line, the Bruins were just five of nine for 55.6%. Peru State made 18 of 58 field goals for 31% and connected on five of 24 from long range for 20.8%. The 'Cats continued to shoot pretty well from the charity stripe as they made 18 of 21 for 85.7%.
 
Despite giving up a considerable height advantage, the Bobcats grabbed just four fewer rebounds than the Bruins – 34 compared to Bellevue's 38. The Bruins had 15 assists while Peru State had 11.
 
Bellevue finished with 12 turnovers, three blocked shots, and had three steals. The 'Cats had eight turnovers and had just one steal.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Niebrugge led all scorers with 24 points on eight of 17 shooting including making all six free throw attempts. McPhillips was the only other Bobcat in double figures as she added 13 points. Maeda had eight points while Beath and Ross each finished with seven.
 
Ross shared game-high rebounding honors as she grabbed 13 boards – 11 of which were defensive. Niebrugge just missed a double-double as she had nine rebounds while Beath added six.
 
Ross dished out six assists while McPhillips added four. Niebrugge was credited with the lone steal.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats don't have much time to rest as they face a long bus ride on Sunday when they head to Springfield, Mo., to take on NCAA DII Lincoln University at 4 p.m. The Blue Tigers are presently 1-2 on the year.
 
Peru State will then play an exhibition contest at their sister college, Wayne State, on Black Friday at 5 p.m. Currently, the Wildcats are 4-2 and will play one more game before the Bobcats go to Rice Auditorium.
 
On Nov. 29, Peru State will open its Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) season on the road when they travel to Marshall, Mo., to face Missouri Valley at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are presently 4-1 on the year.