(Peru, Neb.) – With the regular season nearing an end, it was a key Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division women's basketball match-up at Peru State Monday night.
 
The visiting Mount Mercy (Iowa) Mustangs were just one game ahead of the Bobcats in the North Division standings with each team having four remaining games. The Mustangs were able to head home with the win as they topped Peru State 63-57 in a back-and-forth game.
 
With the win, the Mustangs improved to 6-11 overall and 6-10 in the Heart North. Peru Sate fell to 6-15 on the season and 4-12 in conference play.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) hit a trey off an assist from Kristian Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) to start the scoring at the 8:39 mark. After the Mustangs hit a bucket, K. Dewitt made one of two free throws to make the score 4-2 before Mount Mercy knotted it up.

 
K. Dewitt would dish the ball to Maddy Duncan (Sidney, Iowa) who hit a three-pointer to put the 'Cats back on top. The rest of the quarter would be tight as it was tied at 10 with 2:37 to go before K. Dewitt hit a bucket and then Ellie Bream (Waverly) ended the quarter by hitting a field goal off an assist from Duncan.
 
The Bobcats would lead 14-10 after the first ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Peru State would extend its lead to six when Shupe hit a field goal off an assist from Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) with just 17 seconds off the clock.
 
The Mustangs would score eight straight to take the lead before Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Bream to tie it up at 18 with 7:53 left in the first half.
 
Mount Mercy then scored 11 straight to go up 29-18 before Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a three-pointer off an assist from Duncan to stop the run. A two-pointer by Stewart off another assist from Duncan pulled the 'Cats within six.
 
Later, with 30 seconds left in the half, D. Dewitt hit a field goal to pull Peru State within four at 34-30 at the halftime break.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Mount Mercy would maintain their lead in the third quarter and led twice by as many as nine with the last nine-point lead being 44-35 at the 4:58 point in the quarter.
 
Peru State would get as close as three when D. Dewitt hit a bucket in the paint to make it 47-44 with 2:27 to go in the stanza.

The Mustangs would lead 49-44 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Mount Mercy scored the first seven points of the final quarter to go up by 12 putting a bunch of pressure on the Bobcats.
 
Peru State would continue to fight back as late in the game Shupe and Duncan hit back-to-back treys to pull the Bobcats within three at 60-57 with 68 seconds left in the game.
 
The Mustangs were able to hit a bucket and then made one of two free throws as the 'Cats were forced to foul for the final 63-57 margin.

MOUNT MERCY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Neither team had a particular good night shooting. Mount Mercy did hit 41.7% of their field goals as they had many makes in the paint hitting 25 of 60. From long range, the Mustangs hit 4 of 16 for 25% and went 9 of 17 from the free throw line for 52.9%. Peru State, after shooting very well in their last home, were a lot cooler than the previous week, making 21 of 67 field goals for 31.3% which included making 8 of 26 from behind the arc for 30.8%. The Bobcats made 7 of 12 free throws for 58.3%.
 
Mount Mercy had a slight rebounding edge grabbing 40 boards compared to 36 for the 'Cats. Both teams dished out 15 assists.
 
The Mustangs finished with 20 turnovers while the Bobcats had 15 miscues. Both teams blocked two shots. Peru State grabbed ten steals with Mount Mercy finishing with six.
 
Peru Individual Statistics

 
D. Dewitt led Peru State in scoring before fouling out with 18 points while Shupe added 11. Duncan contributed nine.
 
Bream and D. Dewitt led the team in rebounding as they each grabbed nine boards. K. Dewitt finished with five.
 
K. Dewitt dished out a game-high five assists while Duncan finished with four.
 
D. Dewitt had a game-high two blocks.
 
Stewart finished with a game-high three steals while Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) and Duncan each grabbed two.
 
Upcoming Contests
 
Peru State has three regular-season contests remaining and are not mathematically eliminated from making the Heart post-season tournament which begins next week. All three games appear to be must-win for the Bobcats.
 
First up will be a home game with Central Methodist (Mo.) on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. The Eagles, who are receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, have won seven straight and are now 13-5 overall and are 12-5 in the Heart South.
 
Then, the Bobcats finish up with a pair of contests with Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Friday and Monday nights. On Friday, Peru State will be in Canton, Mo., and then the Wildcats will be in Peru. Game time is 5:30 p.m. for both games. Culver-Stockton is winless on the year although they have been competitive in many of their games.