(Peru, Neb.) – It was not the ending for the 2020-21 season that the Peru State women's basketball team wanted. After falling behind by 15 in the first quarter, the Bobcats could not fight completely back as they lost to Culver-Stockton (C-SC) 76-66 in Canton, Mo., Friday evening.
 
Peru State finished its season with a 6-16 mark and 4-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Culver-Stockton won its only game of the season and finished 1-16 overall and 1-14 in the Heart North.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Culver-Stockton hit a pair of treys to start the game and never looked back. Mackenzie Shupe (Lenexa, Kan.) hit a bucket in the paint off an assist from Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) to put Peru State on the board at the 8:34 mark.

 
After the Wildcats increased their lead to 22-4, Samantha Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) hit a bucket in the paint and then Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) made a pair of free throws. Stewart followed by making one of two free throws and the Bobcats trailed 22-9 at that point.
 
C-SC would lead 24-9 after ten minutes.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
After the Wildcats hit a trey to start the quarter, Peru State went on a 9-1 run which started with a bucket by Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) in the paint off an assist from Stewart. Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) hit a bucket in the paint to end the run off an assist from Shupe to make it 28-18.
 
Peru State got as close as eight on several occasions and trailed by that margin at halftime after Kristian Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) hit a trey off an assist from Shupe as the half ended. The Wildcats led 41-33 at that point.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Culver-Stockton scored the first nine points of the second half as Peru State missed numerous attempts to score. Duncan and Miller made back-to-back buckets to pull the Bobcats within 13 at 50-37 with 4:34 left in the quarter.
 
Peru State would get back within ten at 52-42 after Shupe made a pair of free throws with 2:53 to go. However, the Wildcats would go on another run and led 59-42 at the end of 30 minutes.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats scratched their way back to within ten at 61-51 after Baumert hit a trey off an assist from K. Dewitt at the 7:45 mark.

 
Later, with 1:34 on the clock, Peru State was within four after Stewart made a bucket in the paint to put the score at 70-66. That would be as close as the Bobcats would get in the contest.

CULVER-STOCKTON GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Culver-Stockton had one of their best shooting nights of the season as they made 29 of 66 field goals for 43.9% including hitting 8 of 18 from long range for 44.4%. At the free throw line, the Wildcats connected on 10 of 15 for 66.7%. Peru State hit 21 of 57 field goals for 36.8% which included making 8 of 16 from behind the arc for 50%. The Bobcats went 16 of 21 from the charity stripe for 76.2%.
 
The Wildcats held a slight rebounding edge as they grabbed 41 boards compared to 37 for Peru State. C-SC dished out 21 assists while the Bobcats finished with 13.
 
Both teams finished with a high number of turnovers as Peru State had one more that Culver-Stockton as they had 18 miscues. The Bobcats blocked three shots – one more than the Wildcats. C-SC nabbed 11 steals while Peru State had seven.
 
Peru Individual Statistics
 
Duncan scored 19 game-high points with Baumert adding 12. K. Dewitt and Shupe each contributed nine.

 
Miller finished with a game-high ten rebounds while Dayna Dewitt (Mansfield, Texas) added seven. K. Dewitt and Stewart each added five rebounds.
 
Stewart led the team with four assists while K. Dewitt and Shupe each dished out three.
 
D. Dewitt, Shupe, and Miller each blocked one shot.
 
Baumert, D. Dewitt, Duncan, K. Dewitt, Shupe, Stewart, and Miller each had one steal.
 
Season Completed
 
Peru State's season did not go as well as anticipated due to many different factors. However, on the positive side, 12 players will be returning which represents over 75% of its scoring.