(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State was just trailing by ten points going into the break and then Clarke women's basketball team had a monster third quarter. The Pride outscored the 'Cats 22-7 to help them win by double-digits in a Heart of America Conference (Heart) North Division battle.
 
The 13^th-ranked Pride improved to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Heart and the 'Cats fell to 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Heart on the year.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats struck first when Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) took and made a field goal with just 45 seconds off of the clock in the quarter.

 
The 'Cats would regain the lead 4-2 when Sam Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a bucket with 8:09 remaining.
 
The Pride would go on a 5-0 run before Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) got a field goal to fall, but would trail 7-6 with 5:18 left in the quarter.
 
The Pride ended the quarter on the 15-8 run and would lead Peru State 22-14 after ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Just like the first quarter, the second quarter began the same way with the first field goal coming from the Bobcats. McKenzie Witt (Falls City) hit a bucket with 7:51 remaining to cut the Pride lead to six at 22-16.
 
Clarke would rally off eight straight points to lead 30 to 16. The Bobcats went on a 5-0 run starting with Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) hitting a three-pointer followed by a Stewart two-pointer off an assist from Duncan.
 
After two free throws by Shupe and a bucket by Stewart, the Bobcats had cut the Pride lead that was double-digits in the quarter to seven 32-25 with 3:22 before the break.
 
The Pride went on a 6-0 run before Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) was able to hit a field goal.
 
Duncan hit another three ball this time off the pass from Witt. The 'Cats trail by eight 38-30 with 1:13 remaining.
 
The Pride was able to score with 57 seconds left in until halftime. This would be the last time both teams would score. Clarke would lead 40-30 at the break.
 
Third Quarter Action
 

The 'Cats would come out with a 4-2 run. Miller hit back to back buckets to start the quarter for the Bobcats. The second one came off an assist from Witt.
 
Clarke would go on a 16-0 run to extend their lead to 21 at the 1:57 mark before Duncan was able to stop their run after a made three-point shot.
 
After 30 minutes the Pride would lead the 'Cats 62-37.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats would come out strong in the last ten minutes of the game. They would go on a 9-2 run to start the quarter. Miller started the run off with a bucket.
 
Witt hit from long distance off an assist from Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) and Stewart hit back-to-back buckets. The first field goal was off the pass from Witt.
 
The 'Cats would trail 64-46 with 6:23 remaining in the game.
 
At the 2:56 mark Duncan hit a field goal to cut the Pride lead down to 19 at 69-50.
 
Baumert hit a three with just nine seconds remaining in the game to make the score 74-55.

CLARKE BOX SCORE
 
Team Stats
 
Clarke connected on 27 of 73 field goals for 37% which included making 9 of 30 from long distance for 30%. At the charity stripe, the Pride made 11 of 15 for 73.3%. Peru State connected on 21 of 61 field goals for 34.4% which included making 6 of 17 from three for 35.5%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 9 of 14 for 64.3%.
 
Clarke grabbed 52 rebounds – 19 of which were on the offensive end. Peru State grabbed 40-ten of them were on the offensive end of the court.
 
Pride dished out 21 assists compared to just ten for the Bobcats. Clarke committed 16 turnovers while the 'Cats committed 18.
 
Clarke had 12 steals compared to ten for Peru State. The Pride blocked three shots while the 'Cats blocked two.
 
Peru Individual Stats
 
Duncan had a team high 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting with four made threes for the game.

 
Two other Bobcats were in double figures for the game – Stewart with 14 and Miller with 12.
 
Miller had a team high 11 rebounds which gave her a double-double for the game. Duncan added seven, Witt added six, and Stewart had five.
 
Witt had a team high five assists and Duncan dished out two.
 
Stewart recorded a game high four steals while Witt and Duncan each had two steals.
 
Miller and Stewart each registered one block in the game.
 
Upcoming Games
 
On Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. the Bobcat women will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, to take on the Graceland Yellowjackets. This will be their last game in 2020.
 
The Bellevue Bruins come to town on Jan. 4 at 5:00 p.m. for the first game of 2021.
 
First conference game of 2021 will be on January 13 when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on Grand View.