(Peru, Neb.) – When you hit 43.3% of your three-point attempts, there is a good chance you will win your basketball game. That was the case Wednesday night when the Peru State women made 13 of 30 three-point tries helping them to an 81-73 win over the visiting Graceland (Iowa) Yellowjackets.
 
With the win, Peru State improves to 7-17 overall and 5-16 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Yellowjackets fell to 4-20 on the season and 4-16 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 

Graceland scored the first five points of the game before Stevie Lone Dog (Mission, S.D.) was fouled and made a pair of free throws. Kiley Guerue (Morrill) followed with a bucket off an assist from Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) to make it 5-4 at the 7:22 mark. Niebrugge would then dish off an assist to Jackie Beaugard (Omaha) to give the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 6-5 with 7:02 left in the quarter. The Yellowjackets would get back-to-back buckets to go back on top 9-6. Guerue quickly tied it up with a trey off an assist from Beaugard. The teams would trade buckets and leads the rest of the stanza which ended up tied at 24-24.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets scored the first hoop of the second quarter, but with 7:30 left in the first half, Deandra Williams (Rosenberg, Texas) hit a bucket to tie it off an assist from Niebrugge. Graceland made a pair of free throws to regain the lead before Beaugard drained a long three to give the 'Cats the lead for good in the contest. Peru State would eventually go out to a ten-point lead at 42-32 after Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) hit a trey. Graceland would score four to end the half trailing 42-36.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
After Graceland hit the first bucket of the second half to cut the lead to four, Peru State would reel off seven points. Williams would hit a bucket in the paint after grabbing an offensive rebound to make it 49-38 with seven minutes on the clock. By the end of the quarter, Peru State had increased its lead to 19 at 66-47 after Beaugard hit a trey and then followed with one of two free throws.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The 'Jackets would score the first four points of the last quarter before McPhillips nailed a trey off an assist from Williams to make it 69-51 with 8:16 left in the contest. Graceland would slowly whittle away at the lead and did pull within six at 79-73 with 16 seconds left before two Bobcats made one of two free throws each for the final 81-73 score.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State made 27 of 64 field goals for 42.2% and were even better from long distance making 13 of 30 for 43.3%. The 'Cats made 14 of 23 for 60.9%. Graceland connected on 28 of 71 field goals for 39.4%, but struggled from long range making just one shot out of 16 tries for 6.3%. The Yellowjackets did fare better at the free throw line than the 'Cats making 16 of 24 for 66.7%.

 
The Bobcats had a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 49 boards, including 18 offensive, compared to 29 total for Graceland. Peru State more than doubled up the 'Jackets on assists as the Bobcats dished out 19 while Graceland had nine.
 
Graceland did handle the ball better than Peru State as they finished with 15 while the 'Cats committed 28 turnovers. The Bobcats blocked six shots compared to one for the 'Jackets. Graceland grabbed 20 steals while Peru State finished with nine.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures with Guerue leading the way with a game- and season-high 19 points on 6 of 11 shooting which included making 5 of 6 three-pointers. McPhillips also made 5 of 6 treys and finished with a season-high 17 points on the night. Beaugard added 14 while Williams contributed ten.
 
Lone Dog had a game-high 12 rebounds while Williams just missed a double-double as she had nine boards. Niebrugge and Guerue each added six boards.
 
Beaugard and Niebrugge each dished out five assists while Kennedi Cooper (Long Beach, Calif.) and Williams each dished out three assists. Niebrugge blocked four shots while Lone Dog and Beaugard each blocked a shot. Beaugard led the team with four steals while Guerue added two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will take one of its longest trips of the season as they head to Dubuque, Iowa, on Saturday when they will face Clarke at noon. The Crusaders are 16-8 on the season and are now 12-8 in the Heart having won their last four contests.
 
The Bobcats will be back at home next Wednesday night when they host Central Methodist (Mo.) at 5:30 p.m. The 14^th-ranked Eagles are 18-7 presently and are 14-7 in conference action having lost their last two games.