(Peru, Neb.) – After the Bobcats cut the deficit to three at the beginning of the second half, the Baker Wildcats went on a 20-4 run to pull away in route to a 73-61 win. This was a cross-division contest held in Baldwin City, Kan.
 
With the win, Baker improved to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) South Division. Peru State fell to 3-5 overall and are now 1-3 in the Heart North.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The first part of the contest was back and forth. After Baker scored the first three points, Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) hit a trey to tie the game with 8:17 left in the first stanza. Duncan was fouled on the play and hit the free throw to give the Bobcats an early 4-3 lead.

 
After the Wildcats regained the lead, Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) hit a hoop which gave Peru State its last lead in the contest.

Both teams were hot in the quarter with Baker leading after ten minutes at 25-19.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Baker scored the first two of the second quarter to extend their lead to eight. Shupe would hit back-to-back buckets to pull the Bobcats within four at 27-23 with 6:48 left in the half.
 
Later, Peru State would pull within two at 29-27after Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Libby Baumer (Plattsmouth).
 
The Wildcats would extend their lead to seven at halftime 36-29.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) scored the first two of the second half off an assist from Shupe who would later dish it to Miller to make the score 36-33. A mass substitution by Baker ignited a 20-4 run that made the score 56-37.
 
After Shupe hit a bucket, the Wildcats outscored Peru State 8-1 to end the quarter leading 64-40.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Duncan nailed a trey to start the fourth and then Dewitt hit a bucket in the paint to cut the deficit to less than 20. Baker still led by 19 with 2:20 left on the clock before Peru State scored the final seven points of the contest.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
The Bobcats actually shot the ball well as they made 23 of 56 field goals for 41.1% including hitting 4 of 14 from long range for 28.6%. Peru State connected on 11 of 15 free throws for 73.3%. Baker made 26 of 66 field goals for 39.4% and made 5 of 21 from behind the arc for 23.8%. The Wildcats made 16 of 20 charity tosses for 80%.
 
The Wildcats held a slight rebounding edge grabbing 42 compared to 37 for Peru State. The Wildcats dished out 15 assists while the Bobcats had seven.
 
Peru State had some challenges with 16 turnovers compared to ten for Baker. The Bobcats blocked eight shots while Baker had five blocks. The Wildcats nearly doubled up Peru State in steals as they finished with nine while the Bobcats had five.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double-digit scoring with two others being close. Dewitt led the team with 13 points while Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) contributed 11. Baumert and Shupe each finished with ten. Duncan added nine with Miller adding eight.
 
Miller grabbed a game- and career-high 13 rebounds while Baumert added seven.
 
Shupe dished out three assists with four others each being credited with one.
 
Miller also had a game- and career-high five blocked shots while Dewitt blocked two. Ellie Bream (Waverly) was credited with one block.
 
Stewart led the team with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
The Bobcats will be traveling to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. The Statesmen are 3-3 overall and are 3-2 in the Heart North.
 
Peru State will then host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. The Pioneers have started the season with a 4-1 overall mark and are 4-0 in the Heart South.