(Peru, Neb.) – The visiting Clarke (Iowa) Pride gained an 85-69 victory over Peru State Wednesday night in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. It was the last regular season home game for the Bobcats.
 
The Pride improved to 18-10 overall and 10-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. The 'Cats fell to 3-25 on the year and are still winless in conference play at 0-18.
 
First Quarter Action
 
After Clarke scored the first basket, Swaranga Fernando (Colombo, Sri Lanka) hit a bucket in the paint to tie it at the 9:05 mark. The Pride made one of two free throws to regain the lead by Fernando again scored in the paint to put Peru State up 4-3. Lauren Beath (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a trey on an assist from Abigail Niebrugge (Omaha) and the Bobcats then led by four. After a Pride bucket, Niebrugge found Beath again for another three-pointer and Peru State had its largest lead of the game at 10-5.

 
Clarke went on a 14-0 run and never trailed after that point. Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) hit a bucket with 1:40 left in the quarter to stop the run. As the buzzer went off, Beath drained another three on an assist from Maeda to cut the deficit to 21-17.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
At the 9:19 mark in the second, Maeda hit a three-pointer off an assist from Beath to pull the 'Cats within one at 23-22. The Pride responded with a 9-0 run to push their lead to ten at 32-22. Later in the quarter, Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) would make a pair of free throws to make it 41-35, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would get as Clarke led 48-37 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Cudney would start the quarter with an old-fashioned three-point-play after grabbing an offensive rebound. The eight-point deficit of 48-40 was the last time in the quarter that Peru State would be within single digits. Clarke would led 67-51 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
With 5:48 left in the game, Cudney would get a bucket off an assist from Niebrugge to get the Bobcats within ten at 71-61, but again, the Pride would respond with another run to basically ice the game.

CLARKE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Clarke made 29 of 72 field goals for 40.3% which included hitting 5 of 18 from long range for 27.8%. The Pride hit 22 of 31 free throws for 71%. Peru State connected on 26 of 68 field goals for 38.2% and was nearly as good from behind the arc as they made 8 of 22 for 36.4%. The Bobcats continued their struggle at the charity stripe making 9 of 18 for 50%.
 
The Pride had a huge rebounding edge as they grabbed 48 rebounds compared to 30 for the Bobcats. Clarke dished out 19 assists while the 'Cats had 16.
 
Both teams did a pretty good job handling the ball as the Bobcats only had nine turnovers while Clarke finished with 12. The Pride blocked six shots while Peru State blocked three. The 'Cats doubled up the Pride on steals as they finished with six.
 
Individual Statistics

 
Beath finished with a game-high 23 points to lead the Bobcats. Cudney added 18 points.
 
Cudney had a game-high ten rebounds to finish with her fourth double-double of the season. Beath added seven with Fernando finishing with six.
 
Maeda dished out a team-high six assists while Niebrugge added five. Jakia Vaughn-Taylor (Omaha) led the team with two blocks while Fernando was credited with one. Vaughn-Taylor also led the team with three steals while Fernando grabbed two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State's last regular season game will be on Saturday as they face Mount Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 2 p.m. The Mustangs are 6-23 on the season and are 3-15 in the Heart North. Mount Mercy has lost eight in a row.
 
The Bobcats will be playing Tuesday night in the Heart post-season tournament with their opponent yet to be determined. Peru State will be facing the second seed of the Heart South which as of now would be MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan. The tournament is a single elimination so the 'Cats would need to win to extend their season.