(Peru, Neb.) – A ten-point difference in the first quarter proved to be the key to the Peru State women's basketball team's win Saturday afternoon over Graceland.
 
The Bobcats outscored the Yellowjackets 18-8 on Graceland's home court and went on to win 71-59 in Lamoni, Iowa.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 6-10 overall and more importantly, to 4-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Graceland fell to 3-15 on the year and are still winless in conference play at 0-12.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in for the first two points of the contest at the 9:40 mark. After the Yellowjackets tied it, Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) hit a bucket to give the 'Cats the lead at 4-2 over two minutes later. Once again, Graceland would tie it only to see Silva get another offensive rebound and put it in to make it 6-4 with 6:07 left in the first quarter. That would actually give the Bobcats the lead for good in the contest.

 
Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) followed with a hoop to make it 8-4. Later, after it was 12-8 Peru State, the Bobcats would finish the quarter with three buckets by three different individuals. Allison Tichy (Bellevue) made it 14-8 on a fast break and then Olivia Bell (Auckland, New Zealand) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas). Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) would score the last bucket of the quarter with four seconds to go. Peru State led 18-8 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The 'Jackets scored the first bucket of the second quarter to get themselves back within single digits. Dewitt drained a pair of free throws and then Tichy hit a trey off an assist from Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) to make it 23-10 with 8:01 left in the half. Silva followed with a bucket on an assist from Cudney to give Peru State's its largest lead at that time of 15 at 25-10.
 
Later, at the 4:23 mark, Cudney would put in a bucket in the paint off an offensive rebound to give the Bobcats its biggest lead of the quarter at 31-14.
 
Graceland would cut the lead back to 11 at halftime as they trailed 36-25.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets started the third quarter as they did the second by scoring the first two points and getting back to within single digits. Silva countered with an old-fashioned three-point play and then followed with another bucket and the 'Cats quickly led by 14 at 41-27.

 
Peru State would continue to increase its lead and with 6:18 to go in the stanza, Kirkwood hit a trey off an assist from Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha). This put the 'Cats up by 20 at 49-29.
 
Kirkwood would get another trey off an assist from Marsh-Contreras and then Nytasia Braxton (Camden, N.J.) followed with a three-pointer of her own on an assist from Silva. The Bobcats had their largest lead of the game of 26 leading 55-29 with 5:23 left in the third.
 
Graceland would slowly cut into the deficit and only trailed by 16 at the end of 30 minutes as Peru State led 57-41.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Silva hit a bucket with just 17 seconds off the clock to start the final period. Kirkwood added a field goal in the paint off an assist from Marsh-Contreras and the Bobcats again led by 20 at 61-41.
 
Later, with 6:48 left in the contest, Bell completed an old-fashioned three-point play to give the 'Cats their largest lead in the quarter at 65-44.
 
The Yellowjackets would eventually cut the deficit to 12 by the end of the game, but the Bobcats had prevailed on the road.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats did shoot better than their opponents in all categories in the win. Peru State made 28 of 78 field goals for 35.9% which included making 5 of 18 from long range for 27.8%. The 'Cats had one of their best nights at the free throw line making 10 of 12 for 83.3%. Graceland hit 21 of 60 field goal tries for 35% and really struggled from behind the arc hitting just 1 of 14 for 7.1%. At the charity stripe, the 'Jackets made 16 of 24 for 66.7%.
 
Peru State had the rebounding edge as they grabbed 43 boards compared to 34 for the Yellowjackets. The Bobcats dished out four more assists than Graceland as they handed out 11 dimes.
 
Both teams did have more turnovers than they would like as Peru State had 17 while the Yellowjackets finished with 21. Graceland blocked ten shots while the 'Cats blocked three. Peru State was credited with nine steals while the 'Jackets had 12.

 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Silva who had 17 game-high points on 7 of 15 shooting. Kirkwood added 14 points while Cudney finished with 11.
 
Cudney finished with a double-double as she grabbed 11 game-high rebounds. Bell added ten boards – her best effort of the season while Silva nabbed eight.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out four assists with Silva handing out three.
 
Braxton, Marsh-Contreras, and Dewitt each were credited with one block.
 
Braxton, Kirkwood, and Marsh-Contreras each had two steals.
 
Upcoming Games
 
The Bobcats are on the road for another two games before returning home. The 'Cats will be in Marshall, Mo., Wednesday night facing Missouri Valley at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings are 3-12 on the season and are 2-10 in conference play having lost four games in a row. This game starts the second half of the Heart play for almost all teams.
 
On Saturday, the 'Cats will be in a battle with another set of 'Cats – the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton in Canton, Mo., at 2 p.m. Culver-Stockton is presently 11-7 on the year and are 7-5 in the Heart. The Wildcats have won three contests in a row.
 
Peru State will finally be at home on Monday, January 27, when they host Baker at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats have the same overall record as the Bobcats and are one game behind them in the conference standings at 3-9.
 
Monday's game will be Peru State's Coaches vs. Cancer Night since the team will not be at home during the traditional week when the game is played.