(Peru, Neb.) – It may not have been the prettiest performance. However, the best part was the final score of 74-62 as the Bobcat women's basketball team downed the visiting Graceland Yellowjackets Wednesday night.
 
The win gave Peru State ten Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) wins which is the most for any Bobcat women's team since joining the conference in 2011-12. The 'Cats improved to 12-15 overall and are now 10-13 in the Heart. The victory also kept the team's hopes alive for a post-season tournament berth.
 
Graceland fell to 4-26 on the year and dropped to 1-23 in conference action.
 
The Bobcats never trailed in the contest, but the Yellowjackets kept coming back and kept it close until near the very end.

 
First Quarter Action
 
A trey by Brooke Maeda (Honolulu) off an assisted from Alyssa Marsh-Contreras (Omaha) with just 29 seconds off the clock started the Peru State scoring. Maeda would then dish off to Reagan Kirkwood (Valley Falls, Kan.) who hit another trey to extend the lead to 6-0. With 7:51 left in the quarter, Giovanna Silva (Brasilia, Brazil) scored in the paint to cap off an 8-0 run to start the stanza.
 
After Graceland made one of two free throws, Maeda gave the Bobcats their first ten-point lead after hitting another one from long range – again off an assist from Marsh-Contreras.
 
Later in the quarter with 1:37 remaining, Peru State led again by ten at 20-10 before the 'Jackets finished the period with four points.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Maeda would find Silva for a bucket to start the second period. Marsh-Contreras would follow with a three of her own off an assist from Anjanae Simms (St. Louis, Mo.) and the 'Cats had their largest lead to that point of 11 at 25-14.
 
Graceland would cut the lead to seven only to see the Bobcats extend it out to 15 at 35-20 with 4:29 left in the half off a Nytasia Braxton (Camden, N.J.) bucket in the paint.
 
With 2:28 left in the half, Marsh-Contreras hit a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats up by 16 at 39-23. Again, the 'Jackets would score the final four points of the quarter to make the halftime score 39-27 Peru State.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets would score the first four points of the second half to cut the deficit to eight. Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) would stop the run with a pair of free throws at the 7:59 point.
 
With 4:33 to go in the stanza, a Kirkwood trey off an assist from Maeda gave Peru State another 16-point advantage as they led 54-38 at that point.
 
Once again, Graceland would not quit as they out-scored the Bobcats 12-5 to end the quarter trailing 59-50.

 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Graceland would score first in the final ten minutes before Marsh-Contreras got a bucket off a fast break.
 
Peru State would build its lead up to 11 with just over five minutes to go when Dewitt hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Kirkwood. The Bobcats led 68-57 at that point.
 
The Yellowjackets would pull within six at 68-62 with 3:10 remaining in the game, but would not score after that point. Silva hit a bucket, followed by a hoop by Marsh-Contreras to put the score at 72-62 with 67 ticks left on the clock. Marsh-Contreras would finish the scoring with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds on the clock.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State connected on 27 of 68 field goals for 39.7% which included hitting just 9 of 31 from behind the arc for 29%. At the charity stripe, the team had one of its best performances of the year as they made 11 of 12 for 91.7%. Graceland made 21 of 64 field goals for 32.8%, but struggled from long range making just 2 of 19 for 10.5%. At the free throw line, the 'Jackets went 18 of 30 for 60%.
 
The Bobcats held a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 40 boards compared to 36 for a taller Graceland team. The 'Jackets handed out one more assist than Peru State as they finished with 15.
 
Both teams had a few too many turnovers than they would desire. The 'Cats finished with 17 while the Yellowjackets had 15. Graceland blocked three shots while Peru State had two. The 'Jackets also had one more steal than the Bobcats as they finished with eight.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Two Bobcats finished in double-digit scoring with one other one point shy and two others finishing just two points under double figures. Marsh-Contreras led all scorers with 27 while Silva added 12. Maeda had nine – all coming from behind the arc.
 
Silva finished with a double-double as she grabbed 18 rebounds – her most for a single game this season. Maeda – the shortest player on the court added ten rebounds – her most this season as well.  Claire Cudney (Marysville, Kan.) came off the bench tonight and contributed five.
 
Marsh-Contreras dished out four assists while Maeda, Kirkwood, and Simms each handed out three.
 
Silva and Cudney were each credited with one block.
 
Kirkwood and Marsh-Contreras each grabbed two steals while Silva, Cudney, and Braxton each finished with one.
 
Upcoming Contest
 
Peru State will be hosting William Penn (Iowa) on Saturday, February 29, at 2 p.m. The Statesmen have improved their record to 22-6 with a win over Mount Mercy (Iowa) Wednesday night at home. William Penn is 18-5 in the conference and is 19^th in the NAIA DI Coaches' Top 25 Poll which was released on Wednesday.
 
The Bobcats will need an upset win and help in other games as they are still mathematically alive for a berth in the Heart postseason tournament.