(Peru, Neb.) – On Friday, Nov. 19, the Peru State Women's Basketball team won its first Heart of America Athletic Conference game of the year by defeating William Penn University (WPU) 72-63.
 
Peru State improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the Heart while the Statesmen fell to 0-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
1^st Quarter
 
The 'Cats started the quarter off right scoring first on a made layup from Hailey Ingram (Omaha) as Peru State would have the lead 2-0 with 9:12 remaining. The Statesmen would tie the game with a bucket for themselves.

The Bobcats would go on an 4-0 run to lead William Penn 6-2 before the WPU ended the run with a three with 5:23 left in the quarter.
Peru State would go on a 8-0 with a three from Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) off the pass from Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth), a Ingram three assisted by Lycia Peevy (Paris, Ark.), and a Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) made layup as they led 14-5 with 3:16 remaining.

Peru State led after the first ten minutes 17-10.

2^nd Quarter

The Statesmen would start off making a three to cut, but the Bobcats answered on another end with a made layup from Peevy as the score is 19-13 in favor of the Bobcats.

After a made layup from Stewart Peru State led by ten points at 27-17 with 6:44 remaining until halftime.

WPU would make it single digits at the half but would still trail the Bobcats after the 20 minutes of basketball has been played 32-26.

3^rd Quarter

William Penn scored first in the quarter to make it a four-point game 32-28. Peru State counter on the offensive end with a made layup from Peevy coming off the assist from Duncan. Peevy would make another layup this time coming off the Ingram pass as the Bobcats led 36-31 with 8:15 left in the third.

After two Peevy free throws Peru State saw the lead grow to double digits once again as they would now lead 42-31
Peru State would take a ten-point lead going into the last ten minutes of the game as they led 51-41.
4^th Quarter

After a bucket by WPU, Peru State would make two free throws form Ingram to get the lead back to ten points.

Peru State would see a 12-point lead after Peevy made a layup off the assist from Maria Alcantara (Recife, Brazil) with the score at 55-43 with 8:27 left in the game.

At the 4:49 mark the Bobcats led 62-47 after a made layup from Stewart.

Willian Penn would go on a 12-2 run to get within five of the Bobcats with 2:39 remaining in the game with the score at 64-59.

The 'Cats would survive and win their third game in a row and also go 1-0 in the Heart 72-63.

Stats

Peru State shot 25-51 for 49% from the field which included 4-15 from three for 26.7%. From the free throw line, the Bobcats went 18-26 for 69.2%.

Peevy led all scorers with 26 points on 10-15 shooting and 6-7 from the charity stripe. Ingram added 22 points and Stewart was the last Bobcat in double figures with 16.

Peevy added a game high 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Stewart added nine and was one short of a double-double.

Peevy and Alcantara tied for a game-high in assists with five. Stewart led the game with four steals while Jescenia Mosely (Shenandoah, Iowa) added one.

Peevy and Alcantara each added one block.

Upcoming Game

Peru State will be back at home on Tuesday, Nov. 23, when #18 Clarke University Pride comes to the Al Wheeler Activity Center for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.