(Peru, Neb.) – The second quarter of the Peru State and Mount Mercy women's basketball game was the deciding factor that played out as the Mustangs outscored the Bobcats 26-10.
 
Mount Mercy pulled out a conference win against the 'Cats 83-75 Tuesday night. The Mustangs improve to 1-3 overall and 1-3 in Heart of America Conference (Heart) North match up. The Bobcats fall to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the Heart North.
 
First Quarter Action

The 'Cats took the early lead of the quarter when the ball was stolen by Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) who got an assist off to Sam Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) for a field goal.

The Mustangs bounced back and went on an 8-2 run to make the score 10-4 at the 5:19 mark of the first quarter. Duncan ended the run with a made bucket off an assist from Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas).

Off a turnover by the Mustangs Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) hit a two-point bucket to cut the lead to four with 2:30 left at 14-10.

The first quarter ended in a five-point hole for the Bobcats at 18-13 after Ellie Bream (Waverly) blocked a buzzer-beating shot attempt by the Mustangs.

Second Quarter Action

After the Mustangs opened the quarter with a three-point shot the 'Cats were able to score four straight points. Shupe started things off as she made a bucket off an assist from Stewart and Duncan made a two-point field goal to get the score within three at 20-17 at the 8:34 mark.

The scoring would go back and forth before the Mustangs would go on a 20-2 from the 7:17 mark until 13 seconds left to go until Stewart was able to end the run with a made field goal.

The Mustangs would go into halftime with a score of 44-23 advantage.

Third Quarter Action
 

Peru State would go on a 6-0 run to start the second half of the game. The scoring was off a made bucket by Duncan, two free throws by Stewart, and a McKenzie Witt (Falls City) bucket off a dish from Dewitt with 7:46 left at 44-29.
 
Four straight points by the Mustangs ended as Stewart hit a field goal off a pass from Bream with 6:03 left at 47-33.
 
The biggest lead in the game would come at the 5:07 mark when the Mustangs were up as much as 20 53-33.
 
The Bobcats would then go on a 17-6 run to cut the deficit to nine as two free throws were made by Duncan with 1:28 left in the quarter with a 59-50 lead for the Mount Mercy.
 
The third quarter ended as Shupe made three free throws to cut into the lead. The Mustangs would lead after 30 minutes of play 66-53.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Peru State came out strong in the last ten minutes by going on a 7-2 run to start things off with 7:18 left in the game. Scoring was a made bucket from Duncan, two free throws from Shupe, and a three-pointer by Duncan off an assist from Witt to get within striking distance at 68-60.
 
A made field goal by Witt pulled Peru State within seven at 71-64 with 5:22 left in the game.
 
After a two-point goal was made by Shupe to get the Bobcats within five points 75-70 with 2:01 left in the game, that would be the closest the Bobcats would get.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Mustangs connected on 33 of 68 field goals for 48.5% which included making 3 of 9 from long distance for 33.3%. At the charity stripe, Mount Mercy made 14 of 21 for 66.7%. Peru State

connected on 24 of 58 field goals for 41.4% which included 4 of 10 from the three-point line for 40%. At the free throw line, the Bobcats made 23 of 29 for 79.3%
 
Mount Mercy grabbed 35 rebounds – 13 of which were on the offensive end. Peru State grabbed 41 and 15 were on the offensive end of the court.
 
The Mustangs handed out 18 assists compared to just 14 for the 'Cats. Mount Mercy committed 21 turnovers while Peru State committed 28.
 
Mount Mercy blocked five shots compared to just two shots for the Bobcats. The Mustangs had 13 steals while the Bobcats had four steals.
 
Peru Individual Stats.
 
Duncan had a game-high and season-high 26 points on 8-11 shooting. The Bobcats had two other players in double figures. Stewart added 20 while Shupe had 16
 
Stewart lead the team with nine rebounds – four were offensive. Dewitt added six while Baumert and Duncan each grabbed five.
 
Witt had a game-high and season-high eight assists. Dewitt and Bream each dished out two.
 
Stewart recorded two steals while Witt and Duncan each recorded one.
 
Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) and Bream each blocked one shot.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State women's basketball team will travel to Clarke in Dubuque, Iowa, on Dec. 12 for a 2 p.m. tip-off time. The Pride is 6-1 overall and 4-1 in Heart play.
 
On Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. the Bobcats 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.