(Peru, Neb.) – The MidAmerica Nazarene (MNU) (Kan.) women's basketball team won their sixth-straight contest by shooting nearly 55% to top Peru State 80-63 Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers, who were receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, improved to 6-1 on the season on the Bobcats' home court. The 'Cats fell to 3-7 overall. MNU remained undefeated in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) at 6-0 while the Bobcats fell to 1-5. This was a cross-division match-up between the teams.
First Quarter Action
MNU scored the first four points of the game before
Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) made a pair of free throws to put the 'Cats on the board at the 8:23 mark. After the Pioneers scored again, Baumert dished off to Julie Miller
(Lansing, Kan.) to make it 6-4. Later, with seven minutes on the clock,
Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) made one of two free throws to pull Peru State within one at 6-5 which would eventually be the closest the Bobcats would be the rest of the contest.
Dayna Dewitt goes up and draws a foul in
the first half. Dewitt led Peru State with 13
points and eight rebounds.
The Pioneers would extend their lead to ten by the quarter's end at 22-12.
Second Quarter Action
Dewitt opened the scoring in the second quarter with a bucket off an assist from
McKenzie Witt (Falls City) at the 9:01 mark. The Pioneers would hit a bucket to put their lead back to ten.
With 7:42 on the clock, Dewitt made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to eight at 24-15. About a minute later, Miller hit a pair of free throws and the 'Cats had cut the lead to six at 24-18. The Pioneers would go on a 7-0 fun and MNU now led 31-18.
Witt hit a trey off an assist from
Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) to pull the 'Cats back within ten, but again, that would be as close as the Bobcats would be the rest of the quarter.
MNU would lead by 15 at halftime at 43-28.
Third Quarter Action
One of two free throws by Dewitt started the second half before the Pioneers rattled off six points to extend their lead to 20 at 49-29 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
A trey and then a two-pointer by Witt cut the lead to 15 at 49-34. Shupe followed with a bucket and the 'Cats had pulled back within 13 with 5:31 left in the third stanza.
Again, MidAmerica Nazarene had another run, this time of nine to gain their largest lead at 22 with the score being 58-36 at the 3:46 mark.
That would be the deficit for the Bobcats at the end of the quarter as MNU led 63-41.
Fourth Quarter Action
MNU would extend their lead to 25 at 70-45 before Peru State would start another comeback.
Ellie Bream (Waverly) would make a pair of free throws which was followed by an old-fashioned three-point play by
Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) to put the score at 70-50.
Later with 3:02 left in the game, Dewitt hit a pair of free throws to pull the Bobcats back to within 12 at 72-60.
The Pioneers would finish the contest on an 8-3 run to win 80-63.
MIDAMERICA NAZARENE GAME BOOK
Team Statistics
Mackenzie Shupe finished the contest
with 11 points
MidAmerica Nazarene were hot on the floor as they connected on 28 of 51 field goals for 54.9% which included hitting 8 of 17 from long range for 47.1%. At the charity stripe, the Pioneers went 16 of 23 for 69.6%. Peru State made 20 of 64 field goal attempts for 31.3% while hitting just 3 of 15 from behind the arc for 20%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats went 20 of 27 for 74.1%.
The taller Pioneers had a big rebounding edge as they grabbed 40 boards compared to 23 for the Bobcats. MNU dished out 16 assists while the 'Cats finished with ten.
Both teams struggled with turnovers as MNU had 25 and Peru State finished with 16. The Pioneers blocked six shots and had nine steals. The Bobcats grabbed 11 steals.
Peru Individual Statistics
All eight Bobcats playing in the contest scored. Dewitt led the team with 13 points while Shupe finished with 11 and Stewart added ten. Duncan was one shy of double figures with nine while Witt had eight.
Dewitt also led the team eight rebounds while Stewart grabbed four.
Stewart led the team with four assists while Witt dished out three.
Stewart also led the team with four steals while Miller, Witt, and Shupe each grabbed two.
Upcoming Contests
Peru State has three more contests to conclude their 2020 portion of the season – all of which will be on the road.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, the 'Cats will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, facing Mount Mercy at 5:30 p.m. The Mustangs were shut down during the early part of their season and have only played three contests while losing all three.
Then, on Saturday, Dec. 12, the Bobcats will be in Dubuque, Iowa, taking on the Pride of Clarke at noon. The Pride are presently 6-1 overall on the year and are 4-1 in the Heart North.
The Bobcats' final game of 2020 will be in Lamoni, Iowa, against Graceland on December 15. The Yellowjackets are 1-5 on the year and 0-4 in the Heart North.
