(Peru, Neb.) – Any time you play a team which had been 30-3 the previous season, a win is huge.
 
That was the situation Friday night as the Peru State women's basketball team downed the Hastings Broncos 89-65 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center in Peru.
 
Granted, the Broncos were a different team than in 2019-20; however, they have had some excellent teams over the past few years.
 
With the win, the 'Cats moved to 2-1 on the season while Hastings suffered their first loss in their season opener.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Broncos scored first as they made one of two free throws. Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) responded with a bucket in the paint at the 9:05 mark to put Peru State on the board.  
The 'Cats would build an early lead of 10-5 as Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) scored in the paint off an assist from Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) with 4:57 to go in the quarter.
 
Hastings responded with a five-point run to tie it at 10 at the 3:20 mark.
 
Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) scored in the paint off an assist from Marsh-Contreras to put the Bobcats back in the lead. Dewitt would end the quarter with a bucket and Peru State led 14-10 after ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The early part of the second quarter was tight as the teams traded buckets.
 
Hastings would regain the lead with a trey at the 6:36 mark to go up 22-20. The Broncos would extend the lead with one of two free throws with 5:28 left in the first half.
 
This is where the Bobcats would start an 11-0 run. Ellie Bream (Waverly) made a pair of free throws and followed with a bucket off an assist from Marsh-Contreras to give Peru State the lead at 24-23. From the 4:25 mark in the second quarter on, the 'Cats never trailed again.
 
The 11-0 run would end with a bucket by Marsh-Contreras as Peru State led 31-23 with 2:53 left in the half.
 
Peru State's first double-digit lead came as Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a field goal off an assist from McKenzie Witt (Falls City). Stewart was fouled on the play and completed the old-fashioned three-point play with a free throw as the Bobcats led 40-28 with 52 ticks left on the clock.
 
After Hastings hit one of two free throws, Witt ended the half with a three-pointer from Marsh-Contreras to make it 43-29 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Witt started the second half with a bucket as the 'Cats extended their lead to 16.
 
Peru State would maintain its double-digit lead the entire quarter as they had their largest lead of 18 at 53-35 after Dewitt scored in the paint off an assist from Marsh-Contreras with 5:35 left in the third quarter.
 
Hastings would get as close as 12 with 1:04 left in the quarter. Peru State would counter with a bucket by Maddy Duncan (Sidney, Iowa) in the paint. Marsh-Contreras would make one of two free throws and then stole the ball on the next possession and put in a bucket to end the quarter. The Bobcats led 66-49 after 30 minutes.
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats' first 20-point lead came with 6:34 on the clock when Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) made a pair of free throws. Peru State was up 73-53 at that point.
 
Hastings would cut it to 15, but that was as close as the Broncos would get the rest of the way.
 
Peru State's largest lead came with 2:10 left after Duncan made one of two free throws to put the score at 88-61.
 
Stewart finished the game making one of two free throws for the final 89-65 win.

HASTINGS GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Peru State shot the ball very well as they were 29 of 55 from the floor for 52.7% which included making 5 of 14 from long range for 35.7%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats were 26 of 31 for 83.9%. Hastings went 23 of 68 with their field goals for 33.8%. The Broncos made 5 of 26 from behind the arc for 19.2%. At the charity stripe, Hastings was 14 of 18 for 77.8%.
 
The Bobcats had an edge in rebounding as they grabbed 36 boards compared to 26 for Hastings. Peru State finished with 14 assists while the Broncos had 11.
 
The 'Cats did commit 18 turnovers while Hastings had 14. The Broncos blocked two shots while Peru State had one. The Bobcats finished with one more steal than Hastings as they had eight.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Nine different Bobcats scored in the contest with Marsh-Contreras leading the way with a game-high 25 points. Dewitt added 16 while Witt contributed 11. Baumert was one away from double digits.
 
Witt, Marsh-Contreras, Shupe, and Miller each had five rebounds to lead the team.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out a game-high five assists while Shupe handed out four.
 
Marsh-Contreras was credited with the lone block and also led the team with a game-high four steals. Baumert also nabbed three steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has another huge game looming Monday night when they host the NAIA's preseason #11 team Concordia. The Bobcats and the Bulldogs will square off at 7:30 p.m. Concordia has not had the season start they had expected as they are 0-3 and will be hosting Northwestern (Iowa) on Saturday before heading to Peru.
 
Then, on Wednesday, the 'Cats will open their Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play as Graceland (Iowa) visits the confines of the Al Wheeler Center. The Yellowjackets will have only played one game coming into the game as they host Hannibal-LaGrange on Saturday.