(Peru, Neb.) – In the first contest featuring a revamped Peru State lineup due to injury, the Benedictine (BC) women took an 89-59 win over the Bobcats in Atchison, Kansas, on Saturday.
 
With the win in their Ralph Nolan Gymnasium, the Ravens improved to 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Bobcats fell to 3-7 overall and are winless in conference play at 0-3.
 
Revamped Line-up
 
Injuries to regular starters Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) and Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha), the 'Cats were down to four players. Three current and two former Peru State volleyball players and one cross country runner have joined the team with two starting their first games against Benedictine.

 
First Quarter Action
 
Peru State kept it tight in the first quarter. After BC made one of two free throws, Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) gave Peru State its only lead of the contest with a three-pointer. The Ravens would score the next seven points and never trailed in the rest of the contest.
 
After the Ravens led by 12 at 21-9, Peru State finished the quarter by outscoring Benedictine 10-2 to trail 23-19.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The Ravens dominated the second quarter as they again scored 23 while holding the Bobcats to just nine. Benedictine led 46-28 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Peru State played Benedictine even in the third quarter as each team scored 18 points. The Ravens scored the first four points before the 'Cats started a little run. Beath made a pair of free throws and then followed with a trey off an assist from Claire Cudney (Marysville, Mo.) to make it 50-33. Mallory Matthies (Omaha) followed with a trey off an assist from Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) and Peru State had scored eight straight.
 
The Ravens would go on an 8-0 run of their own to go back up by 22 at 58-36. The third quarter would end with Benedictine leading 64-46 as McPhillips hit a bucket near the end of the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action

 
Peru State was as close as 15 at 69-54 after Matthies made a pair of free throws. However, that would be as close as the 'Cats would be in the contest. Benedictine would outscore Peru State 25-13 in the final frame to win 89-59.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Benedictine made 39 of 91 field goal attempts for 42.9% as they had a huge day with 25 offensive rebounds and had many second shots. From behind the arc, the Ravens made 8 of 32 for 25%. At the free throw line, BC went 3 of 6 for 50%.
 
Peru State connected on 17 of 47 field goals for 36.2% which included making 7 of 15 from long range for 46.7%. The Bobcats made 18 of 25 free throws for 72%.
 
The Ravens had a big rebounding edge as they finished with 50 boards compared to 34 for the 'Cats. Benedictine finished with 23 assists while the Bobcats had 12.
 
Turnovers loomed large for the Bobcats as they had 26 while Benedictine had just 9 miscues. The Ravens blocked 5 shots while Peru State had 3 blocks. BC stole the ball 16 times while the Bobcats finished with just 2.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Beath led the Bobcats with a career-high 20 points on 5 of 9 shooting and also making all 7 free throws. McPhillips added 15 points while Cudney, in first time in a Bobcat uniform, scored 10 points. Matthies and Emily Meyer (Sabetha, Kan.) each added 5 points – both their first time on the court this year. Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) had 4 points.
 
Cudney nearly had a double-double as she led the team with 9 rebounds with Beath adding 7. Matthies grabbed 5 boards.
 
Beath dished out 4 assists while Maeda, McPhillips, and Cudney each added 2 assists. Beath blocked 2 shots while Cudney had 1 block. Maeda and McPhillips each added 1 steal.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be heading to St. Joseph, Mo., on Sunday to play an exhibition contest against Missouri Western at 6 p.m. It will be a countable contest for the Griffins who are 8-1 on the season – one of their best starts in program history.
 
The Bobcats will then be off until 2018 when they will be on the road for their first game on January 3. Peru State will face MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., at 5:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, January 6, the 'Cats will host Grand View (Iowa) at 2 p.m.