(Peru, Neb.) – A slow first half start doomed the Bobcat women's basketball team Friday night as they dropped a non-conference game in Parkville, Mo. The Park Pirates grabbed the win 69-58.
 
Park improved to 3-0 on the season while the 'Cats fell to 1-2.
 
First Quarter Action
 
After Park hit the first bucket, Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Bellevue) hit a three-pointer on an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) to give the 'Cats an early lead. Later, at the 7:35 mark, Marsh-Contreras would dish off to Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) who also hit a three to make it 6-2 Peru State. Daspin Bruning (Everest, Kan.) would follow with a trey and the Bobcats would have their largest lead of the game at 9-2.

 
The Pirates would trail until eventually tying it at 15-15 with 3:27 left in the first quarter. A two-pointer by Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) gave the Bobcats lead again. Park would tie with a two, but Silva would put the 'Cats back into the lead making one of two free throws. It was at that point that the Bobcats would go cold as Park would outscore Peru State 10-1 to lead 27-19 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Park would score first in the second quarter to extend their lead to ten. One free throw by Marsh-Contreras would cut the deficit to nine. The teams would basically trade buckets until just under three minutes when the Bobcats trailed by 11 after a pair of free throws by McPhillips. After Park led 38-27, they would score the next six points to extend their lead to 17 at halftime – 44-27.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Pirates would score the first four points to extend their lead to 21 at 48-27. Bruning would make one of two free throws to start the scoring for the 'Cats in the second half. A bucket by Silva was followed by one of two free throws by Allison Tichy (Bellevue). Tichy would then add a two-pointer to cut the deficit to 48-33 with 5:54 left in the stanza.
 
Park would go back up by 20 late in the quarter. Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil) would hit a bucket in the paint with 1:39 in the quarter which would be the final scoring of the quarter. The Pirates led 58-40 at that point.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Silva would make one of two free throws to start the quarter and then hit a bucket in the paint on an assist from Alcantara. With 9:08 left in the game, the 'Cats were within 15 at 58-43.
 
The 'Cats would get back to within 11 at 63-52 after Maeda hit a trey with just under two minutes left in the game. After one free throw by Park, Tichy hit a trey and Peru State was back within single digits.

 
However, the nine-point deficit was as close as Peru State would get as the Pirates held on for a 69-58 win.

PARK GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Park made a very respectable 45.1% of its field goals and was almost as good from long range making 5 of 12 for 41.7%. At the charity stripe, the Pirates made 12 of 18 for 75%. Peru State hit 18 of 59 field goals for 30.5% which included making 8 of 24 for 33.3% from behind the arc. The Bobcats only connected on 14 of 26 free throws for 53.8%.
 
The Pirates only had an edge of two rebounds as they grabbed 39. Park dished out nine assists compared to six for Peru State. Both teams had trouble with turnovers as Park had 18 and the 'Cats finished with 17.
 
Park blocked two shots and had six steals. The Bobcats did not block any shots and had six steals.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures in scoring. Silva led the team with 12 points while Tichy added 11 – both coming off the bench. Marsh-Contreras added ten points.
 
Silva also led the team with seven boards with Alcantara grabbing six. McPhillips and Marsh-Contreras each added five rebounds.
 
Alcantara dished out two assists with four others adding one.
 
Anjanae Simms (St. Louis) grabbed two steals while four others each had one steal.

 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will play a pair of exhibition contests next week before heading into Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play.
 
On Monday, the 'Cats will be playing NCAA DI University of Nebraska Omaha at 5 p.m. The Mavericks have started the season 0-2 with losses to Creighton and Kansas State.
 
Then, on Wednesday, Peru State will play its sister college, NCAA DII Wayne State, at 5:30 p.m. in Wayne. The Wildcats started with a win over Northwest Missouri State Friday night. Wayne State will have played the University of Nebraska at Kearney Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bobcats will begin Heart action on Saturday, Nov. 16, when they host Culver-Stockton (Mo.), at 4 p.m. The Wildcats have started the season 2-1 with a pair of wins over Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) and loss to Marian (Ind.).