(Peru, Neb.) – The Peru State women's basketball team took on previous unbeaten McPherson College Saturday afternoon in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. The Bobcats prevailed 77-70 to go above .500 heading into conference play later this week.
 
 The 'Cats improved to 5-4 on the season while the Bulldogs fell to 3-1 on the year.
 
1^st Quarter
 
McPherson would get the first points off the game at the 9:31 mark off a made three. The game would be tied at three after Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) made her own three off the pass from Hailey Ingram (Omaha).
 
Peru State trailed by four until Lycia Peevy (Paris, Ark.) made two free throws to cut the Bulldogs lead to two at 9-7 with 6:15 left in the first quarter.
 
With 2:42 remaining in the quarter, McPherson led by seven at 16-9. Peru State would end by trailing by four to end the first ten minutes of the game.
 
2^nd quarter
 
The quarter started just like the first quarter for the Bulldogs as they went on a quick 4-0 run to lead by eight at 23-15 with 8:18 remaining until intermission.
 
The run would end with a Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) made layup off the assist from Peevy as the 'Cats trailed 23-17. Peru State would go on a 5-0 run to get within one point of the Bulldogs at 23-22 with 6:29 on the clock.
 
Then at the 5:52 mark the Bobcats took the lead at 24-23 off a Stewart made layup.
 
With 2:51 left until halftime McPherson led 30-26 over the Bobcats before Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) made a free throw and made a layup to get within one of the Bulldogs.
 
At the half the 'Cats trailed by one possession at 33-31 after 20 minutes of basketball had been played.
 
3^rd Quarter
 
McPherson opened the quarter with a bucket while the Bobcats had a quick answer with a Peevy three-pointer off the pass from Duncan. Peru State would tie the game 38 off a Jescenia Mosely (Shenandoah, Iowa) layup at the 7:26 mark.
 
A 4-0 run from the Bulldogs put them back in the lead at 42-38 with 5:54 left in the third. Peru State would go on a 5-0 run to take a one-point advantage over McPherson as there was just over four minutes to go in the quarter.
 
After 30 minutes of basketball as been played the Bobcats take a lead to start the fourth quarter at 55-52.
 
4^th Quarter
 
The Bulldogs led 61-57 after a 9-2 run to start the quarter with 6:59 remaining in the game. The run would be stopped after a bucket by Peevy.
 
Stewart would tie the game at 61 with a layup with 6:15 on the clock. At the 4:17 mark the Bulldogs led again by five at 58-53.
 
Peru State would take the lead at 72-70 with 1:13 remaining off a Duncan layup. The 'Cats scored five straight points to close out the Bulldogs and win their fifth game of the year 77-70.
 
Stats
 
Peru State shot 30-64 for 46.9% which included 5-15 from three for 33.3%. At the free throw line, the 'Cats made 12-15 for 80%.
 
Peru State had three players score more than 20 points. Stewart led the way with 24 on 10-14 shooting and 4-4 from the charity stripe. Peevy added 22 points and Duncan had 20 points with four threes.
 
Peevy added 13 rebounds with four of them being on the offensive side of the ball. Peevy recorded her third double-double of the season. Mosley added nine rebounds.
 
Duncan and Peevy tie for team-high in assists with five.
 
Duncan, Peevy, Stewart, Miller each had one steal in the game.
 
Peevy added two blocks which led the team.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play two exhibition games versus Augustana University on Monday, Nov. 15, and University of Nebraska at Kearney on Wed., Nov. 17. Their first Heart of America Athletic Conference game of the year will be on the road in Oskaloosa, Iowa against William Penn University at 6 p.m. Friday night.