(Peru, Neb.) – When it appeared that the Baker (Kan.) Wildcats had the Bobcat women's basketball team on the ropes Monday night, Peru State responded.
 
The Bobcats saw a 17-point first half lead turn into a four-point deficit late in third quarter. Peru State did regain the lead before the end of the third and then never trailed in the fourth. The Bobcats would go on to defeat the Wildcats 84-73.
 
With the win, Peru State matched its most conference wins since 2014 by improving to 6-9 in the tough Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). Overall, the Bobcats improved to 8-11 – also, the most wins since 2014 when the team won 11.
 
Baker fell to 8-11 overall and 5-10 in the Heart. They came into the contest with two-game winning streak.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) hit the first trey of the game off an assist from Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) with just 26 seconds off the clock. After a basket by the Wildcats, Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) hit a bucket on an assist from Olivia Bell (Auckland, New Zealand). Baker countered with a trey to tie the game at 5 at the 8:07 mark.

 
A bucket by Silva would break the tie and the Bobcats would lead until late in the third quarter.
 
Peru State would have its largest lead of eight in the first quarter at 18-10 after Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) nailed a three-pointer at the 4:32 point.
 
The Wildcats would eventually cut the lead to two at 22-20 before Marsh-Contreras hit a field goal with 42 seconds left to make the score 24-20 at the end of the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) would make one of two free throws to start the second quarter. Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) followed with a bucket off an assist from Marsh-Contreras to make it 27-20. Cudney then followed with another bucket to give the Bobcats their largest lead to that point of 29-20 with 7:47 left in the first half.
 
After the Wildcats hit a pair of free throws, Cudney came back with a pair of free throws to again give the Bobcats a nine-point lead. Kirkwood would then complete an old-fashioned three-point play to make to extend the lead to 12 at 34-22. Then, at the 4:39 mark, Kirkwood hit a trey and the Bobcats led 37-22. With 3:59 left in the half, Silva extended the lead to 17 with a bucket in the paint.
 
From that point on, the Bobcats went cold as Baker would score nine straight to make the halftime score 39-31.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Baker hit the first hoop of the second half, but Silva responded with a bucket after grabbing an offensive rebound.
 
The Wildcats would slowly work their way back into the game and eventually knotted the score at 46 with 3:41 left in the third stanza. A bucket by Baker and then a pair of free throws gave the Wildcats a 50-46 lead with 1:39 left.
 
Peru State responded with a bucket by Silva and then a three-pointer by McPhillips off an assist from Kirkwood to regain the lead at 51-50 with 52 ticks on the quarter clock. The game would then be tied at 52, 53, and 54 before Kirkwood drained three free throws – the first to tie it and last two to make the score 56-54 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
A bucket by Marsh-Contreras started the final ten minutes. Baker countered with a trey to cut the lead to one, but that was as close as the Wildcats would come in the game.
 
The Bobcats later would extend their lead to ten at 78-68 after Silva hit a bucket off a fast break on an assist from Marsh-Contreras with 2:46 remaining. Another bucket by Silva gave Peru State its largest lead of 12.
 
Peru State would eventually when 84-73 clinching their eighth win of the year and a season sweep of Baker.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Both teams shot the ball well from the floor with the Wildcats actually shooting better than Peru State. The Bobcats finished hitting 30 of 73 for 41.1% which included hitting 6 of 22 for 27.3%. Peru State had its best night of the year at the free throw line making 18 of 21 for 85.7%. Baker made 24 of 50 field goal tries for 48% and connected on 8 of 20 from down town for 40%. At the charity stripe, the Wildcats made 17 of 25 for 68%.
 
The Bobcats had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 41 boards compared to 29 for the Wildcats. The assists were almost even as Peru State handed out one more dime as they finished with 12.
 
Peru State only had nine turnovers – one of their best performances of the season. The Wildcats finished with 14. Baker blocked seven shots compared to just one for the Bobcats. Peru State led the steal category with six – two more than Baker.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Very balanced scoring led the Bobcats to the win. Silva had a team-high 23 points while Kirkwood finished with a career-high 18 points. Cudney finished with 17 and Marsh-Contreras added 15.
 
Silva and Cudney both had double-doubles as Silva grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds with Cudney finishing with 13.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out four assists with McPhillips handing out three. Cudney contributed two assists.
 
Silva was credited with the team's lone block. Marsh-Contreras grabbed three steals while McPhillips added two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
While every game is important, the two road games coming up for the Bobcats are crucial in terms of potentially making the Heart post-season tournament. Presently, Peru State is sitting ninth – two games out of the eighth seed. The top eight teams will make the tournament in March.
 
Thursday night will be the next contest for the Bobcats as they face MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas, at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers, who were receiving votes in the latest coaches' poll, are 10-6 on the season and are 9-4 in conference play. They lost Monday night to league-leading Central Methodist (Mo.).
 
At noon on Saturday, the Bobcats will be in Dubuque, Iowa, to face Clarke at noon. The 21^st-ranked Pride are 17-4 on the year and are 11-4 in the Heart – presently third in the conference standings.
 
The Bobcats will then be off a week before returning home for the Foundation's National Alumni Association Annual Chili Feed on February 8. The Evangel (Mo.) Crusaders will be the opponent for a 2 p.m. contest.