(Peru, Neb.) – Early in the fourth quarter the Peru State women's basketball team was down by 13. The Bobcats would go on a 23 to 8 run over the final eight minutes to break a six-game losing streak.
 
A pair of Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue) with 1.5 seconds left on the clock gave the Bobcats a 67-65 victory over the visiting Culver-Stockton (CSC) Wildcats Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 2-9 overall and more importantly, the Bobcats won their first game in the Heart of America Athletic Conference against six losses. CSC fell to 6-6 on the season and 3-6 in conference action.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats actually led all of the first quarter after being tied once early. Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) started the scoring on an assist from Marsh-Contreras with just 49 seconds gone in the quarter. After the Wildcats scored a bucket to tie it at 2-2, Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) completed an old-fashioned three-point play to put Peru State on top for the next 20 minutes or so.

 
Peru State's largest lead in the first ten minutes came at the 5:44 mark when Marsh-Contreras hit a trey off an assist from Maeda.
 
A bucket by Jordan Salas (Winfield, Kan.) coming off an assist from Marsh-Contreras would put the Bobcats up 16-11 at the end of the first stanza.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
A trey and then a two-point bucket by Marsh-Contreras, both off assists from Keaundra Washington (Omaha), put Peru State up by ten at 21-11 at the 9:37 mark in the second period.
 
Later, a field goal by Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil) gave Peru State its largest lead in the quarter at 25-13 with 7:25 remaining in the second ten minutes.
 
Culver-Stockton would cut that lead clear down to one point at 29-28 with 2:29 left in the half. Marsh-Contreras would sandwich buckets around one by Cudney to put the Bobcats up 35-28 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Wildcats would score the first five points of the third quarter before Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) would make one of two free throws to make it 36-33 Peru State.
 
Thirteen straight points by Culver-Stockton gave the Bobcat fans something to start worrying about as they led 46-36 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.
 
A field goal by Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka) stopped the run at the 2:25 mark.
 
After CSC led 50-40, Marsh-Contreras would hit a pair of free throws to end the quarter with the Bobcats trailing 50-42.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Cudney would hit a pair of free throws to being the fourth quarter only to see the Wildcats score seven straight to go up by 13 with 8:32 left in the contest.
 
A trey from Marsh-Contreras, off an assist from Beth Hall (Graceville, Fla.), pulled the Bobcats back within ten. Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) would make one of two free throws to get Peru State back within single digits.
 
Marsh-Contreras would hit a pair of free throws and then hit a bucket in the paint off a dime from Maeda. Suddenly, the Bobcats were only down by five at 57-52 with 4:38 left in the game. Beath would make a pair of free throws and now the deficit was only three points.
 
A Wildcat free throw stopped the run before Maeda drained a trey and now it was 58-57 Culver-Stockton with 2:20 on the clock.
 
A pair of CSC free throws gave them a three-point advantage only to see Maeda dish one off to Marsh-Contreras who would nail another trey to tie the game at 60-60 at the 2:03 mark.
 
A Silva bucket from Cudney and then a trey by Alcantara from Maeda put the Bobcats up by five at 65-60 with just 61 ticks on the clock.
 
Culver-Stockton did not panic and came back to tie it at 65-65 with five seconds remaining.

 
With just 1.5 seconds on the clock, Marsh-Contreras was fouled. She calmly stepped to the line and nailed both to put the Bobcats up 67-65. A long try by the Wildcats came up short and Peru State had won their second game of the season.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State connected on 24 of 60 field goals for 40% including making 6 of 20 three-point attempts for 30%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats made 13 of 15 for 86.7%. Culver-Stockton hit 22 of 62 field goals for 35.5% which included making 6 of 22 from distance for 27.3%. The Wildcats were slightly better at the charity stripe than the Bobcats as they made 15 of 17 for 88.2%.
 
CSC had a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 36 boards compared to 32 for the Bobcats. Both teams finished with 11 assists.
 
The Wildcats finished with two more turnovers than the Bobcats as they had 21. CSC blocked two shots and grabbed nine steals while Peru State finished with ten steals.
 
Peru Player Statistics
 
Only two Bobcats finished in double-figure scoring with Marsh-Contreras finishing with a game-high 28 points on 9 of 17 shooting which included going a perfect 6 for 6 at the free throw line. Cudney added ten points. Alcantara was just one shy of finishing in double figures.
 
Silva, Cudney, and Maeda each grabbed five rebounds while Marsh-Contreras, Alcantara, and Fernando each added four boards.
 
Maeda dished out four assists while Marsh-Contreras handed out three. Washington contributed two assists. Silva and Marsh-Contreras each grabbed a game-high four steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State is going to play an exhibition game in Sioux Falls, S.D., against the Augustana Vikings on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The NCAA DII Vikings are presently 11-1 and are playing a conference game on Sunday before the 'Cats head north to face them.
 
The Bobcats will be back in action on Jan. 2 when they host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers are presently ranked sixth in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll as they have started the season 11-1 and are a perfect 8-0 in the conference.
 
On Jan. 5, Peru State will be on the road to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they will take on Mount Mercy at 2 p.m. The Mustangs are 4-8 overall and are winless in the Heart against seven losses.