(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team led 64-56 after three quarters but could not withstand the fourth-quarter charge by the host Bellevue Bruins Wednesday night.
 
The Bruins, now 5-1 overall, outscored the Bobcats 24-15 to claim an 80-79 win in the Lozier Activity Center on Bellevue's campus. It was the third loss of the season for Peru State as they will look for their first win of 2018-19 Friday night.
 
First Quarter Action
 
After Bellevue made the first bucket of the game, Daspin Bruning (Everest, Kan.) made a jump shot off an assist from Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil) to tie the game at 2-2 with 9:34 to go in the quarter. About a minute later, Bruning would tie the game, again off an assist from Alcantara. An 8-1 run would put the Bruins up 12-5 which stood for some time in the first period as both teams went a little cold from the floor.

 
Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka) would stop the scoring gap with a lay-up after she grabbed an offensive rebound with 4:15 to go to make it 12-7. Bellevue would end up doubling up the score on the 'Cats during the rest of the quarter with the last score coming from Keaundra Washington (Omaha) who hit a trey with 55 seconds to go off an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu).
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) would hit a layup just 18 seconds into the second frame to cut the score to 24-16. After a Bellevue bucket, Alcantara and Washington would hit back-to-back baskets to pull Peru State within six at 26-20 with 6:28 left in the first half.
 
One minute later, Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) would hit a layup and the 'Cats were now within five at 29-24. With 4:32 remaining, Alcantara hit a layup and it was now 29-26. Bellevue would respond with five straight points to stretch their lead back to eight at 34-26.
 
With 2:23 to go in the half, Cudney would hit a layup off an assist from Maeda and it was now 34-30. The Bruins, however, would extend their lead back to eight at 42-34 by halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Peru State would score almost as many points in the third quarter alone as they had the entire contest.
 
An old-fashioned three-point play by Silva started the quarter, but Bellevue would counter with a trey to maintain the eight-point lead.
 
The Bobcats would chip away at the lead and finally at the 6:02 mark, Beth Hall (Graceville, Fla.) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 49-49. Silva would give Peru State its first lead at 51-49 on a layup off an assist from Alcantara which forced a Bellevue timeout.

 
Maeda would extend Peru State's lead to four with a pair of free throws with just under five minutes to go in the third period.
 
The 'Cats would continue to extend its lead and finally led by ten after Cudney hit a layup to make it 64-54 with 54 seconds left.
 
Peru State would lead 64-56 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Alcantara would start the fourth with a jump shot to put the Bobcats back up by ten.
 
Bellevue would then go on a 14-4 run to eventually tie it at 70-70 with 2:49 left in the game forcing a 30 second Peru State timeout.
 
A pair of Bellevue free throws temporarily gave them the lead before Cudney hit a layup to knot the score at 72-72 with 56 seconds left.
 
Five Bruin free throws gave them a 77-72 advantage before Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue) was fouled while hitting a three-pointer. Marsh-Contreras made the free throw and it was now 77-76.
 
Bellevue then made three of four free throws to lead 80-76. Marsh-Contreras hit a trey with one second left for the final 80-79 score.

BELLEVUE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Bellevue made 25 of 67 field goals for 37.3% which included making 8 of 18 from long range for 44.4%. From the free throw line, the Bruins made 22 of 30 for 73.3%. Peru State actually shot better than the Bruins as they hit 32 of 76 field goal attempts which included making 40% of their three-pointers as they made 6 of 15. The 'Cats made 9 of 12 free throws for 75%.
 
Peru State had a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 58 compared to 35. Both teams finished with 16 assists. The Bobcats were hurt by 21 turnovers compared to just seven for Bellevue. The Bruins had quadruple the number of blocks by Peru State as they finished with 12. Bellevue also finished with more than double the steals with 11 while the 'Cats had five.

 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures in scoring and were led by Silva who scored 16 points. Cudney finished with 14 points while Alcantara added 13.
 
Alcantara finished with a double-double as she grabbed 11 rebounds. Silva and Cudney each added seven boards while Fernando and Bruning each grabbed six.
 
Maeda dished out eight assists with Alcantara handing out six.
 
Silva, Hall, and Washington were each credit with one block.
 
Silva had two steals with Alcantara, Bruning, and Cudney each nabbing one.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will host York Friday night at 5 p.m. in its "Cans for Cabinet" contest. The Panthers are presently 2-1 with both of their wins coming over Randall (Okla.).
 
The following Saturday, Nov. 17, the Bobcats will begin their Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) action when they host Central Methodist (Mo.) at 2 p.m. The Eagles are 1-1 to start the season.