(Peru, Neb.) – The Clarke Crusaders women's basketball team took an early lead over the visiting Peru State team and went on for an 82-65 win on Saturday in Dubuque, Iowa.
 
With the win, the Crusaders improved to 17-8 overall and 13-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Peru State fell to 7-18 overall and are now 5-17 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 
After Clarke scored the opening bucket, Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) gave Peru State the lead with a trey off an assist from Jackie Beaugard (Omaha). Clarke would regain the lead with a pair of free throws, but Kiley Guerue (Morrill) would hit a jumper to put the 'Cats up 5-4 with 7:06 left in the quarter. Later Beaugard would drain a trey with help from Niebrugge and the Bobcats led 8-4 at that point.

 
The Crusaders would get a bucket and on the next Peru State possession, Beaugard would hit another three-pointer to give the 'Cats their largest lead in the game at 11-6 with 5:36 remaining in the stanza. Clarke would come back to tie it at 11-11 and eventually regain the lead. The last tie in the contest would come later when Niebrugge hit another trey to tie it at 14-14 with 2:51 left. The Crusaders would outscore the 'Cats 11-3 in the rest of the quarter and never trailed after that point. Clarke led 25-17 at the end of the first period.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Clarke led by as many as 12 on several different occasions in the second stanza. With the Crusaders leading 39-27 with 1:31 left in the half, Peru State got a bucket by Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) and then a three-pointer from Destany Ross (Gretna) off an assist from Stevie Lone Dog (Mission, S.D.) to pull within seven. The Crusaders would get a bucket to end the half leading 41-32 at that point.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) would score a bucket to start the second half for the 'Cats, but it was Clarke going ahead by 22 by the end of the quarter. The Crusaders would lead 65-43 at the end of three quarters.
 
Fourth Quarter Action

 
The Crusaders would go up by 26 early in the final quarter before Peru State would go on one of its come-from-behind efforts. The 'Cats would pull within 14 with 5:18 left in the game when Beaugard drained a trey off an assist from Ross. But, that would be as close as the Bobcats would get as they fell 82-65.

CLARKE BOX SCORE
 
Team Statistics
 
Both teams shot the ball well from the floor. Clarke made 28 of 57 field goals for 49.1% which included making 3 of 10 from long range for 30%. The Crusaders actually won the game from the free throw line where they hit 23 of 30 for 76.7%. Clarke made 17 more points from the charity stripe than the Bobcats – the difference in the game. Peru State made 24 of 57 field goal attempts for 42.1% while hitting 11 of 25 from long range for an even better 44%. The 'Cats did struggle from the free throw line as they made just 6 of 14 tries for 42.9%.
 
The Crusaders held a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 42 boards compared to 26 for the Bobcats. Both teams dished out 14 assists and each blocked two shots.
 
Both teams had trouble handling the ball as Peru State committed 24 turnovers while the Crusaders had 21. The Bobcats grabbed 11 steals while Clarke nabbed 14.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Peru State had four players in double figures and were led by Beaugard's 15 points. Ross added 11 points in just three minutes of playing time while Niebrugge and Williams each finished with ten. Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) was just one shy of double figures.

 
Lone Dog finished with a game-high 12 rebounds with Williams grabbing five. Beaugard dished out three assists while Niebrugge, Guerue, Lone Dog, and Ross were each credited with two.
 
Beaugard and Lone Dog each blocked one shot. Williams led the team with three steals while Maeda, Niebrugge, Lone Dog, and McPhillips each had two thefts.
 
Upcoming Games
 
With four games remaining, the Bobcats are in a must-win situation if they want to make the Heart post-season playoff. And their remaining schedule is not easy.
 
Peru State will face two ranked teams this week. On Wednesday night, the Bobcats will host the 14^th-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) Eagles at 5:30 p.m. The 'Cats might be catching the Eagles at the right time as they have lost three in a row to fall to 18-8 on the year and 14-8 in the Heart.
 
On Saturday, the Bobcats face an even-tougher opponent when they travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on the tenth-ranked Baker Wildcats. Baker has won eight in a row and are 22-4 overall and 20-2 in conference play.
 
The Bobcats' final home game will be on Wednesday, Feb. 22, when Avila (Mo.) visits at 5:30. The Eagles are just one game ahead of the 'Cats in the conference standings at 6-16 and are 7-17 overall.
 
Feb. 25 will be the final regular season contest when Peru State has another long road trip when they head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to take on Mount Mercy. The Mustangs are 12-14 on the year and 9-13 in the Heart.