(Peru, Neb.) – Any time a team makes 72.7% of their shots in a half, it usually means good things.
 
That was the case Wednesday night in Peru as the Bobcat women's basketball team made 16 of 22 fields which included hitting 6 of 8 from long range. Peru State scored 47 points in the half and defeated the visiting Missouri Valley Vikings 79-58 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) cross-division match-up.
 
With the win, the 'Cats snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 5-14 on the year and more importantly moved to 3-11 in the Heart North. Missouri Valley fell to 9-13 on the year and 6-12 in the Heart South.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The entire first half was close throughout. In the first quarter alone, there were three ties and seven lead changes. The largest lead was four points.

 
The Vikings scored the first bucket with about a minute gone in the game. Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) would tie it up off an assist from her sister Kristian Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas).
 
Peru State's first lead would come when K. Dewitt hit a bucket in the paint to put the 'Cats up 5-4 at the 7-minute mark.
 
The Bobcats would have its largest lead at the 2:47 point after Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a bucket after grabbing an offensive rebound and put it back in. At the end of the quarter, Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) hit a trey off an assist from Ellie Bream (Waverly) to once again give the Bobcats a four-point advantage to end the first ten minutes at 21-17.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Peru State would maintain their lead through the first five-minutes-plus into the second quarter before Mo Valley eventually tied it at 27 at the 4:18 mark. The Vikings would take the lead with a bucket before D. Dewitt put Peru State back up off an assist from Duncan.
 
After Missouri Valley regained a two-point lead, Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) hit a trey off an assist from Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) to make it 32-31 Peru State with 1:21 left in the half.
 
The Vikings would score with 49 seconds left to lead by one at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Missouri Valley started the second half by scoring a pair of buckets to lead by five at 37-32.
 
With 7:42 on the clock, Shupe drained a trey off an assist from K. Dewitt and then Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) tied the game off an assist from K. Dewitt.
 
The Vikings would again go back up by four and would maintain the lead until Baumert hit a trey off an assist from Stewart to put Peru State up 44-42 with 4:04 on the clock.
 
After the game was tied at 44, Duncan broke the tie after stealing the ball and taking it to the hoop. Peru State never trailed after that point.
 
Stewart gave the 'Cats their first double-digit lead at 54-44 with a bucket after she made a steal. Another three-pointer from Baumert off an assist from K. Dewitt put Peru State in the lead by 13 at 57-44 at the end of the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Baumert hit a trey to start the final stanza and later Stewart hit a bucket to give Peru State a 20-point lead at 64-44 with 7:40 remaining in the game.
 
Peru State's largest lead was 28 at 78-50 after Shupe hit a trey coming off an assist from K. Dewitt with 3:45 left in the game.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics

 
Peru State had its best night of the year shooting as they made 29 of 54 field goals for 53.7% including hitting 10 of 15 three-pointers for 66.7%. At the free throw line, they hit 11 of 18 for 61.1%. Missouri Valley connected on 22 of 57 field goals for 38.6% and struggled from behind the arc going 2 of 14 for 14.3%. At the charity stripe, the Vikings went 12 of 19 for 63.2%.
 
The rebounding was close with Peru State having a slight edge as they grabbed 27 boards compared to 25 for the Vikings. The 'Cats dished out 19 assists while Mo Valley finished with 12.
 
Both teams did have trouble handling the ball as Peru State finished with 22 turnovers – one less than Missouri Valley. Both teams blocked one shot. The Vikings were credited with 12 steals – two more than Peru State.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by D. Dewitt who had 21 points. Duncan finished with 17 while Shupe and Stewart contributed 12 and 10 respectively. Baumert was one shy of double digits.
 
D. Dewitt finished with a double double as she had a game-high ten rebounds. Baumert added five while Miller grabbed four.
 
K. Dewitt dished out a game- and season-high eight assists. Duncan handed out five assists.
 
Shupe was credited with the team's lone block.
 
D. Dewitt had a game-high four steals while Stewart nabbed three.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will be facing Park in Parkville, Mo., Friday night at 5 p.m. This will be the finish of the game which was suspended late in the first quarter after learning that Bobcat player had tested positive with the coronavirus. The Pirates are 3-16 on the season and 2-16 in the Heart South.
 
Then, on Monday, February 15, the Bobcats will host Mount Mercy (Iowa) at 6:30 p.m. Prior to the contest, the Dewitts will be recognized for Senior Night. Mount Mercy is currently 5-10 on the year and 5-9 in the Heart North.