(Peru, Neb.) – While scoring their most points in a single game in over two years, the Peru State women's basketball team rolled past the University of St. Mary (USM) Tuesday night.

The Bobcats topped the Spires 93-49 in Leavenworth, Kan., in a non-conference game to improve to 1-1 on the season. USM fell to 1-1.
 
The last time the 'Cats scored 90 or more points on Nov. 20, 2018, when Peru State lost to Baker (Kan.) in overtime 99-93.
 
First Quarter Action
 
While the final score would not indicate such, the first quarter was tight throughout. Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) put the 'Cats on the board by making one of two free throws. However, the Spires came back and took the lead.

 
There would actually be eight lead changes in the first quarter with USM leading by four at 13-9 with 4:20 left in the stanza.
 
Back-to-back treys by Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) with the second one coming off an assist from McKenzie Witt (Falls City) put the Bobcats in the lead at 15-13 with 2:25 on the clock. That would actually give Peru State the lead for good in the contest.
 
Maddy McPhillips (Omaha) would extend the lead with a trey off an assist from Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) before the Spires would hit a pair of free throws.
 
Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) would get a trey to end the quarter coming off an assist from Duncan to put Peru State up 21-15 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Peru State would score the first 16 points of the second quarter starting with a bucket by McPhillips in the paint off an assist from Marsh-Contreras. Duncan would hit the last three points of the 16-point run off an assist from Marsh-Contreras. With 4:47 left in the first half, the 'Cats led 37-15.
 
The Bobcats would extend their lead to 31 at halftime with Duncan hitting a three-pointer off an assist from Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) with 1:20 left in the first 20 minutes. The 'Cats would lead 50-19 at the half.
 
Third Quarter Action

 
After the Spires scored the first bucket of the second half, McPhillips hit a trey on an assist from Marsh-Contreras at the 7:39 mark to put the score at 53-21. That was the largest lead of the quarter for Peru State.
 
Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) finished the quarter with a basket from Marsh-Contreras with four second left. Peru State led 67-38.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Shupe completed an old-fashioned three-point play to start the fourth quarter for the Bobcats.
 
Peru State would have its first 40-point lead at 82-42 with a pair of free throws by Witt with 5:18 left in the contest.
 
The Bobcats would hit that mark again at 87-47 after a pair of free throws by Duncan. After USM's final bucket, Ellie Bream (Waverly) hit a bucket and then Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) finished the scoring with two seconds left off an assist from Witt.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats shot the ball very well on the night as they made 33 of 70 field goals for 47.1% which included hitting 14 of 32 from behind the arc for 43.8%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats went 13 of 16 for 81.3%. USM went 19 of 73 for 26% including making just 2 of 22 from long range for 9.1%. At the free throw line, the Spires were 9 of 18 for 50%.
 
Peru State had a large rebounding edge as they grabbed 58 boards compared to 40 for USM. The 'Cats dished out 22 assists while the Spires had five.
 
The Bobcats did commit 20 turnovers while USM had 14. The Spires blocked four shots compared to one for Peru State. USM grabbed two more steals than the Bobcats as they finished with eight.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
All ten players hitting the court for the Bobcats scored in the contest while three finished in double figures.

 
Duncan led the team with 19 while coming off the bench. Marsh-Contreras finished with 18 points while Stewart also came off the bench to put in 13. McPhillips and Witt each added eight.
 
Dewitt and Miller led the team with a game-high nine rebounds. Baumert and Stewart each added eight boards.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out a game-high eight assists while Witt handed out six.
 
Miller was credited with the team's lone block.
 
Shupe led the team with three steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will be playing a pair of perennial powers from the Great Plains Athletic Conference before beginning conference play. On Friday, Peru State will be hosting Hastings at 6 p.m. with a junior varsity game prior to the start of the contest. The Broncos will be playing their first game of the season when they come to Peru.
 
The preseason #11-ranked Concordia Bulldogs will be the opponent for the Bobcats on Monday, Nov. 16, at home at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs dropped a pair of games in a tournament they hosted this past weekend, but will look to rebound against a pair of GPAC foes before heading to the Al Wheeler Activity Center.