(Peru, Neb.) – In a must win for the Peru State women's basketball team, they found themselves trailing by 23 with 4:34 left in the third quarter in the home of the Benedictine Ravens.
 
From that point in the game, the Bobcats would score 39 points while holding Benedictine to 13 in route to a 70-67 win in Atchison, Kansas, Wednesday night.
 
The win keeps the post-season hopes alive for the 'Cats as they improved to 10-15 on the season and 8-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) with three games remaining. The Ravens fell to 16-11 on the year and 10-11 in conference play. Peru State is chasing Benedictine for the final post-season tournament berth.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) put the Bobcats on the board first with a bucket in the paint at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter. From that point on until the third quarter, the Ravens pretty much controlled things.

 
After scoring the next seven points to go up 7-2, Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) made a pair of free throws to stop the run. Later, Benedictine would increase their lead to double digits at 16-6 before Cudney completed an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to 16-9 with 4:07 left in the first quarter.
 
Another seven Raven points were put on the board before Giovanna Silva (Brazilia, Brazil) hit a pair of free throws to stop the run. Benedictine would eventually lead 25-13 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Olivia Bell (Auckland, New Zealand) would get the Bobcats on the board with a bucket off an assist from Cudney to start the second quarter. Silva would feed Cudney for a hoop and the 'Cats were back within single-digits at 25-17 with 8:49 left in the half. The Ravens would follow with nine straight points before Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) hit a trey with 5:16 to go.
 
Benedictine would lead by as many as 18 at 38-20 before Marsh-Contreras scored back-to-back buckets to cut the lead to 14. A Raven trey was followed by a Marsh-Contreras three-pointer to end the half with Benedictine leading 41-27.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Ravens would score the first nine points of the second half and seemed to be in control at that point. Cudney would grab an offensive rebound and put it back in to stop the run.
 
Later, with Benedictine leading again by 23 at 54-31, the Bobcats slowly started to claw their way back into the game. By the end of the quarter, after a bucket by Silva, the 'Cats trailed 60-46 – the same margin at the end of the first half.
 
Fourth Quarter Action

 
Silva and Cudney started the quarter with buckets with Silva's coming on an assist from Kirkwood. Marsh-Contreras would hit a bucket and was fouled on the play. She would hit her free throw and suddenly, the Bobcats were within seven at 60-53 with 7:35 to go in the contest.
 
After a Raven bucket, Silva laid in a basket and then Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) hit a trey off an assist from Marsh-Contreras to make it 62-58 with 6:29 on the clock. Marsh-Contreras would then dish off to Kirkwood who also had a three-pointer and it was now a one-point contest.
 
Benedictine would maintain a slim lead until Cudney tied it at 64 by making one of two free throws with 3:33 remaining. The Ravens would go back out in front and still were clinging to a one-point advantage with just over a minute left in the game.
 
A put back by Cudney with just 14 seconds to go put the Bobcats in front 68-67. An offensive foul was called on the Ravens giving the 'Cats the ball back. Benedictine immediately fouled Silva with two seconds left. Silva stepped to the line and sank both free throws for the final 70-67 score.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State was out-shot from the floor but had their best night of the season at the charity stripe. The Bobcats hit 24 of 64 field goals for 37.5% which included making 5 of 17 from long range for 29.4%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats went 17 of 19 for 89.5%. Benedictine connected on 27 of 63 field goals for 42.9% and had the same percentage from behind the arc as they made 6 of 14. The Ravens went to the charity stripe ten times and made seven for 70%.
 
The Bobcats had a rebounding edge which was key to the game as they grabbed 45 rebounds compared to 36 for Benedictine. The Ravens dished out 14 assists while the 'Cats finished with eight.
 
The 'Cats had 16 turnovers which was one more than the Ravens. Benedictine blocked five shots while the Bobcats finished with two. Peru State grabbed seven steals with the Ravens finishing with five.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures with one other just one shy of double digits. Marsh-Contreras led the team with 17 points while Cudney added 16. Silva had 14 points with Kirkwood contributing nine.

 
Cudney grabbed a game- and season-high 18 rebounds while Silva added 15.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out three assists while five others were each credited with one.
 
Cudney and Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) each had one block in the game.
 
Cudney and Marsh-Contreras each finished with two steals.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State will be on the road one more time before finishing the regular season with a pair of home games. The Bobcats will be heading to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday to face Mount Mercy at noon. The Mustangs are 5-21 on the season and 2-19 in the Heart.
 
Next Wednesday, Feb. 29, the 'Cats will be hosting Graceland (Iowa) at 5:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets picked up their first conference win of the season by upsetting Grand View in overtime Wednesday night. Graceland is 1-21 in the Heart and is 4-24 overall.
 
The final contest of the regular season will be Senior Day against William Penn (Iowa). The Statesmen are receiving votes in the most recent coaches' poll and are currently 19-6 on the season and 15-5 in conference play.