(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing by eight at halftime, the Peru State women's basketball team outscored their Wildcat opponents by 18 in the second half to gain their second conference win of the season.
 
The Bobcats topped Baker 65-55 in Baldwin City, Kansas, Thursday night to improve to 3-5 on the season and more importantly 2-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The Wildcats fell to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
 
This was Peru State's first-ever win over Baker since joining the Heart nine years ago.

 
First Quarter Action
 
A two-point bucket by Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) gave the Bobcats in the lead 48 seconds into the game. Baker countered with a trey and led for a couple of minutes as neither team could make a bucket. With 5:53 to go in the quarter, Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Dewitt to put the Bobcats back on top.
 
Peru State would have an 8-7 lead after Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) made one of two free throws with 4:11 left in the first stanza. That would be the last point scored by the Bobcats in the quarter while Baker scored five to lead 12-8 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The Wildcats would extend their lead to eight after scoring the first four points in the second quarter. Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) would put the Bobcats on the board with a two-pointer in the paint. Baker would counter with a trey to have their largest lead of the game at 19-10 with 6:28 to go in the half.
 
The Bobcats would claw their way back and only trail by two after Cudney hit a bucket off an assist from Allison Tichy (Bellevue) with 2:20 left in the half to make it 21-19.
 
Baker would finish the quarter on a 7-1 run to lead 28-20 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats would trail for about half of the third quarter until the second of two free throws by Marsh-Contreras would tie it at 33 at the 5:10 mark. The Wildcats would jump back out to a four-point lead only to see Peru State tie it again at 38 after Marsh-Contreras hit a trey off an assist from Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) with 3:05 to go in the third.

 
The game would be tied again at 41 before Baker scored four points. A bucket by Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil) cut the deficit to two at 45-43 to end the third quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Cudney would tie the game at the 9:35 mark at 45. Peru State would rattle off 11 more points starting with a bucket by Silva in the paint. The 13-point run was finished off with a free throw by Dewitt to put the score at 56-45 at the 4:29 mark.
 
Later, with just over two minutes to go, Kirkwood hit a bucket in the paint to give the Bobcats its largest lead of 13 at 60-47. Baker would fight back to get within seven at 60-53 before Marsh-Contreras hit a pair of free throws and then Tichy hit one to put Peru State back up by ten. After Baker hit a bucket, Marsh-Contreras would end the scoring with a pair of free throws for the 65-55 win.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Neither team shot the ball the best as the Bobcats made 22 of 69 field goals for 31.9%, but were better from behind the arc as they made 7 of 19 for 36.8%. At the charity stripe, Peru State went 14 of 26 for 53.8%. Baker was 18 of 59 from the floor for 30.5% and hit 7 of 27 from three-point range for 25.9%. At the free throw line, the Wildcats made 12 of 22 for 54.5%.
 
Peru State out-rebounded the Wildcats 49-43. The Bobcats dished out two more assists as they finished with 12.
 
Both teams committed 16 turnovers. The Wildcats did stuff eight Peru State shots while the Bobcats blocked two. Peru State grabbed eight steals while Baker finished with six.

 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Marsh-Contreras finished with a game-high 25 points which included hitting all eight free throws. Cudney was the only other Bobcat in double figures as she had 12. Dewitt was one point from double figures.
 
Marsh-Contreras also tied for game-high rebounding honors as she nabbed 11 board. Silva and Dewitt each grabbed eight while Cudney finished with seven.
 
Leading another category, Marsh-Contreras dished out a game-high four assists. Kirkwood and Dewitt each added two assists.
 
Cudney and Daspin Bruning (Everest, Kan.) each blocked one shot.
 
Cudney tied for game-high honors with four steals with Kirkwood adding two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will be hosting Clarke (Iowa) on Saturday at noon. The 21^st-ranked Pride are 8-2 on the season and 4-2 in the Heart having topped Mount Mercy (Iowa) Thursday night.
 
Saturday's game will be the basketball teams' toy drive. Those attending the game can get in free if they bring a toy for Growing Great Kids. In addition, at halftime of both games, the Fantastic Flyers will be performing.
 
Peru State will be off for a week before traveling to Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. The eighth-ranked Eagles are 9-1 on the year and are 5-1 in conference play.