(Peru, Neb.) – When your team has one of its better shooting nights, but the opponent shoots even better, it usually spells trouble. That was the case for the Peru State women's basketball team Wednesday night at home as the visiting Avila (Mo.) Eagles connected on over 56% of their field goals. The Bobcats made over 36% of their field goals and fell to Avila 79-67.
 
With the win, the Eagles evened their Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) South Division record at 6-6 and are now 7-10 on the year. Peru State fell to 3-17 on the season and have yet to win in conference play as they are now 0-12 in the Heart North.

 
First Quarter Action
 
Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) put the 'Cats on the board first as she made one of two free throws as a technical was assessed on the Avila bench for a number change. Later, Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a bucket to put the Bobcats up 3-0 at the 7:50 mark. After Avila tied it with a trey, Beath nailed a trey herself off an assist from Niebrugge to put Peru State back on top with 6:25 remaining in the quarter. The Bobcats would hold the lead until 3:14 remained in the first ten minutes before Avila took the lead for what would be good. The Eagles eventually led 18-14 at the end of the first stanza.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Avila would hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the second quarter to increase their lead to ten at 24-14. Peru State would close the gap back to three on three different occasions with the last one being at 30-27 at the 3:13 mark when Niebrugge hit a trey off an assist from Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka). The Eagles would increase their lead to nine at halftime at 39-30.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Eagles would hit the first basket of the second half before Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) would hit a field goal in the paint to cut the lead to 41-32. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, that would be the only time they would be within single digits in the third quarter. Avila would lead 62-46 after the first 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats would not give up and at the 6:22 mark, Cudney pulled the team back within nine at 63-54 with another bucket in the paint. The Eagles would again go up by double digits before Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) would cut the deficit to eight with a pair of free throws with 55 ticks left on the clock as Peru State trailed 73-65. A 6-2 Eagle run would close out the game.

AVILA GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
As noted earlier, the Eagles finished the game by making 27 of 48 field goals for 56.3% which included making 10 of 20 from long range for 50%. Avila also made 15 of 20 free throws for 75%. Peru State took 18 more shots than Avila, but made just 24 for 36.4%. This included hitting 6 of 18 from behind the arc for 33.3%. At the charity stripe, the Bobcats made 13 of 22 for 59.1%.
 
Avila held the rebounding edge as they grabbed 35 boards compared to 28 for the 'Cats. The Eagles dished out 14 assists while the Bobcats finished with 11.
 
Peru State did do a little better job handling the ball as they had 15 turnovers while their opponents finished with 20. The 'Cats blocked one shot and had seven steals while the Eagles finished with five steals.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Cudney finished with a double-double as she had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Three other Bobcats finished in double figures with Beath finishing with 17 while Niebrugge added 13. Fernando contributed 11 points. Fernando also grabbed seven rebounds.
 
Niebrugge dished out five assists while Maeda added four. Niebrugge was credited with the lone blocked shot of the night. Cudney and Niebrugge each had three steals to lead the 'Cats.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will look to break its losing streak this coming Saturday in front of a big home crowd as it will the annual Foundation's National Alumni Association Chili Feed. The Bobcats will host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) at 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 9-12 on the year and are now 4-8 in the Heart North having won at Graceland (Iowa) Wednesday night.
 
The chili feed will begin at approximately 2:45 p.m. and there will be a freewill donation for the feed. In addition to the chili feed, the Fantastic Flyers of Gary's Tumbling of Glenwood, Iowa, will perform at halftime of both contests. Between games, the student-athletes who had received either athletic or academic recognition during the fall sports will be honored.
 
The Bobcats will be on the road next week for two contests. They will travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The Statesmen are 16-5 overall and 10-2 in the Heart North. On Saturday, the 'Cats will travel to Fayette, Mo., to face one of the hottest teams in the conference, that being the Central Methodist Eagles. The Eagles are currently 16-7 and are 10-2 in the Heart South and have wins recently over the ranked Benedictine (Kan.) and Baker (Kan.) teams.