(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team saw a five-point lead after 30 minutes disappear Wednesday night in Lamoni, Iowa. The home-standing Graceland Yellowjackets outscored the Bobcats 22-9 to take a 65-57 Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) win.
 
Graceland improved to 5-9 overall and are now 2-4 in the Heart North. The 'Cats fell to 3-11 on the year and are still winless in conference play at 0-6.

 
First Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets scored the first bucket of the game before Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) hit a bucket to tie it at 2-2 with 9:29 left in the stanza. Graceland would regain the lead on the next play and ended up leading 15-14 at the end of the quarter after Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) made the last bucket of the quarter to pull Peru State within one.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) scored a two-pointer with 7:59 left on the second quarter clock to give the 'Cats a 16-15 lead. That lead was short-lived as the 'Jackets would score the next nine points to go up 24-16. The Bobcats would fight back as Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) would drain a trey on an assist from Kealy Ensminger (Homer). Then, Niebrugge scored back-to-back hoops to pull Peru State within one at 24-23 with 3:20 left in the half. Graceland would retain the one-point lead at halftime as it was 31-30 after the first 20 minutes.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Graceland would hit a bucket to start the third period to lead by three. Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka) scored off an assist from Maeda and then Niebrugge drained a trey off an assist from Fernando to put the Bobcats up 35-33 with 7:14 left in the quarter. Another bucket by Fernando, off an assist from Cudney gave the 'Cats a four-point lead at 37-33.
 

With 4:03 left in the quarter, Peru State had its largest lead at 43-38 after Beath hit another three-pointer off an assist from Niebrugge. Graceland was back within one point later in the quarter, but later Niebrugge's bucket with 11 seconds left in the quarter put the Bobcats up by four at 48-44 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets would score the first six points of the fourth quarter to lead 50-48 before Fernando would tie the score with the assist coming from McPhillips. Graceland would regain the lead again with a pair of free throws only to have McPhillips tie it with a hoop. Niebrugge would then put the Bobcats up 54-52 with 5:11 left in the game, but Graceland would knot it one minute later. Peru State would hit a dry spell as the 'Jackets scored the next 11 points to ice the game.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State has shot the ball better in the last couple of contests, but their opponents still are shooting a little better. Graceland made 22 of 56 field goals for 39.3% which included making 3 of 17 from long range for 17.6%. The Yellowjackets hit 18 of 22 free throws which proved to be the difference in the game for 81.8%. The Bobcats made 22 of 61 field goal tries from 36.1% including hitting 6 of 25 from behind the arc for 24%. The 'Cats struggled from the free throw line making just 7 of 15 for 46.7%.
 
Graceland had a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 51 boards compared to 30 for the Bobcats. The Yellowjackets finished with 13 assists compared to 11 for the 'Cats.

 
The 'Cats did control the ball better than Graceland as they finished with 14 turnovers compared to 24 for the 'Jackets. Both teams blocked three shots. The Bobcats grabbed nine steals while Graceland finished with three.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Peru State had a very balanced scoring attack as two players finished with double figures with four others scoring six or more. Niebrugge led the team with 13 points while Maeda added 10. Cudney and McPhillips each added nine while Fernando finished with eight.
 
Cudney tied for game-high rebounding honors as she had ten boards. McPhillips finished with four.
 
Niebrugge dished out three assists while McPhillips handed out two. McPhillips, Niebrugge, and Cudney were each credited with one block. Niebrugge led the team with a game-high three steals while McPhillips and Cudney each added two.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats will be hosting Mount Mercy (Iowa) on Saturday at noon – two hours earlier than the normal start time. The Mustangs are 3-14 on the year and are also winless in the Heart North so one of the teams will get off the snide Saturday.
 
On Wednesday, the 'Cats will travel to Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo., for a 5:30 p.m. contest. The Wildcats are 7-8 overall and are 2-4 in the Heart South.