(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team's season came to a close with a 63-57 loss at Mount Mercy on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
The Mustangs improved to 13-17 on the season and 10-16 in the Heart and might have assured themselves a spot in the upcoming Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) post-season tournament which will start on Monday. The Bobcats fell to 7-22 overall and 5-21 in the conference.
 
Peru State improved their season-win total by one game and their Heart conference mark by two games.

 
First Quarter Action
 
The game was tight throughout with the Mustangs leading most of the way. After Mount Mercy scored the opening bucket, Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) hit a trey for the first scoring for the Bobcats at the 8:44 mark. The Mustangs regained the lead on the next possession and added another bucket to make it 6-3. Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) would tie it with three-pointer with 5:00 minutes left in the quarter. Once again Mount Mercy went on top with a bucket, but Jackie Robles (Parlier, Calif.) tied it with a jumper. The Mustangs would lead by as many as six at 14-8, but a Robles bucket, followed by a trey by Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) would pull Peru State within one at 14-13 with 28 seconds left. The Mustangs would eventually lead 17-13 at the end of the period.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
For most of the second stanza, the Bobcats would be within three or four points and only trailed 27-24 with 2:51 left after Kyle Johnson (Honolulu) would drain a trey off an assist from Beaugard. Mount Mercy would finish the quarter out-scoring the 'Cats 7-2 to lead 34-26 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
As they have done many times on the year, the Bobcats would fight back in the game. Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) would score the first points of the second half off an assist from Kiley Guerue (Morrill). Niebrugge would get a trey on an assist from Maeda and then Guerue would hit a three-pointer off an assist from Niebrugge. Suddenly, the game was tied 34-34 with 7:56 left in the third quarter. A Guerue bucket and then a three by Beaugard, off an assist from Maeda, would put the 'Cats up 39-34 with 5:19 left in the third. After the Mustangs tied it at 39-39, Robles gave Peru State back the lead. It would be later tied at 41-41 and 44-44 before Mount Mercy hit a bucket with 24 seconds left to lead 46-44 at the end of 30 minutes.

 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Robles would knot the game with a bucket with 9:15 left in the game, but Mount Mercy scored on their next possession and never trailed the rest of the contest. The Mustangs led by five at 53-48 before Williams would make back-to-back buckets to pull the 'Cats within one at 53-52 with 4:48 remaining. That would be as close as Peru State would be the rest of the way as they had to foul at the end to try to get the ball back.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Mount Mercy made 23 of 62 field goals for 37.1% which included making 2 of 19 from long range for 10.5%. The difference in the game came at the free throw line as the Mustangs made 15 of 18 for 83.3%. Peru State made 22 of 67 field goal tries for 32.8% including hitting 9 of 38 from behind the arc. The Bobcats made just 4 of 8 free throws for 50%.
 
The Mustangs had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 53 boards compared to 35 for Peru State. Mount Mercy dished out 12 assists while the Bobcats had 11. The 'Cats committed just nine turnovers while the Mustangs had 14. Peru State blocked three shots and grabbed eight steals while Mount Mercy had just one steal.

 
Individual Statistics
 
Peru State had two players each finishing with 11 points – former Omaha Central teammates Beaugard and Niebrugge. Williams was one shy of double figures while Robles added eight.
 
Williams and Niebrugge each grabbed five rebounds while Stevie Lone Dog (Mission, S.D.) and Guerue each added four. Maeda dished out a game-high five assists.

 
Beaugard was credited with two blocks while Lone Dog added one. Niebrugge had a game-high four steals with Beaugard nabbing two.
 
Season Concluded
 
The Bobcats will be graduating two seniors – Williams and Robles. Williams was the team's leading scorer and rebounder while Robles was the team's fourth-leading scorer.