(Peru, Neb.) – The difference in the first quarter scoring was enough for the 23rd-ranked Grand View Vikings to hold off the visiting Peru State women's basketball team Wednesday night.

The Vikings outscored the Bobcats 20-9 in the first quarter and then held on for a 78-67 win in Des Moines.
 
Grand View improved to 12-3 overall and 8-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart). The 'Cats fell to 5-8 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Grand View would never trail in the game as they started with a 3-0 lead before Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) put in a bucket at the 8:01 mark. The Vikings would go on a 7-0 run to lead 10-2 before Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) stopped the run with a bucket at the 5:04 mark.

 
The Vikings would eventually lead 20-9 at the end of the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Grand View would score the first basket of the second quarter before the Bobcats made things interesting.
 
Marsh-Contreras would start an 11-0 run for the Bobcats with a pair of free throws. Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Center, Kan.) would follow with a trey off an assist from Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) to make it 22-14 with 8:25 left in the first half. Marsh-Contreras would hit a bucket and then Cudney would come up with back-to-back buckets – the last coming on an assist from Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) to pull the 'Cats within two at 22-20 at the 5:40 mark.
 
That would be as close as the Bobcats could get as the Vikings would go on a 16-6 run to lead 38-26 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
A bucket by the Vikings extended their lead to 14 to start the third stanza.
 
At the 7:50 mark, Marsh-Contreras hit a trey off an assist from Kirkwood to pull Peru State within single digits at 42-33.
 
Later, at the 5:51 mark, a bucket by Kirkwood would get the Bobcats within seven at 46-39, but that would be as close as the 'Cats would get in the quarter.
 
Grand View would eventually lead by 14 at the end of 30 minutes at 64-50.

 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Once again, Peru State made it interesting to start the fourth quarter. Cudney started the scoring with a bucket at the 8:37 mark. Marsh-Contreras would follow with a trey, this time coming off an assist from Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) to make it 64-55. Dewitt would then complete an old-fashioned three-point play to pull the 'Cats within six at 64-58 with 7:38 left in the contest.
 
Grand View would respond with five-straight points and the 'Cats would basically trade baskets the rest of the way. Kirkwood would finish the game with a three-pointer on an assist from Cudney.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Vikings were hot from the floor as they made 31 of 61 field goals for 50.8%, but were cold from the long range as they only hit 1 of 13 for .077%. At the free throw line, Grand View made 15 of 22 for 68.2%. Peru State connected on 24 of 73 field goals for 32.9% including hitting 7 of 27 from long range for 25.9%. From the charity stripe, the 'Cats went 12 of 21 for 57.1%.
 
The rebounding was close as the Vikings had a slight edge 46-43. Grand View almost doubled up the Bobcats in assists as they had 21 compared to 11 for Peru State.
 
The Bobcats did commit fewer turnovers than Grand View as they finished with 13 while the Vikings had 18. Grand View blocked five shots while the Bobcats blocked two. Peru State had five steals and the Vikings finished with three.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Marsh-Contreras who had a game-high 29 points. Cudney finished with 14 while Kirkwood added 13.

 
Cudney led all rebounders as she grabbed 13 boards to finish with a double-double. Silva added five rebounds.
 
Silva, Cudney, and Nytasia Braxton (Camden, N.J.) each dished out two assists to lead the team.
 
Braxton and Kirkwood each blocked one shot.
 
Cudney and Marsh-Contreras were each credited with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be heading back to Iowa on Saturday to face William Penn in Oskaloosa at 2 p.m. The Statesmen, who were receiving votes in the most recent NAIA poll, are 10-4 overall and 6-3 in the Heart having dropped a contest to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on the road Wednesday night.
 
The Bobcats will then be back home on Wednesday, January 15, to host Benedictine (Kan.). The Ravens, who are also receiving votes in the DI poll, are 12-3 on the year and are now 6-3 in the Heart as they, too, dropped a contest on Wednesday night on the road at Evangel (Mo.).