(Peru, Neb.)—On Monday night the Peru State women's basketball team won a thrilling overtime game over Park 74-69 to snap an eight-game losing streak. Peru State improves to 9-13 on the year and 4-9 in the Heart North. Park falls to 8-11 and 2-11 in the Heart South.

In the first quarter of action, both teams would trade the lead a couple of times before the game was tied at 5-5 with 7:07 to play. The Bobcats would then go on a 7-0 run to take the 12-5 lead which included a three-point shot from Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa).

Later in the first quarter the Pirates cut the lead to two before the Bobcats would extend their lead back out to four 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with a 5-0 run by the Pirates where they would retake the lead 18-17. The Bobcats and Pirates were locked in a tight affair for much of the second quarter. Duncan had a triple late in second quarter to give the Bobcats a five-point lead with just under three minutes to play.

The lead did not last long as the Pirates went on a 5-0 run themselves to tie the game at 26. Duncan hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bobcats a slight edge leading by two points 32-30 heading into the locker rooms.

In the third quarter the Pirates would not go away and tied the game a couple of times. The game was tied 38-38 with just above four minutes to play. Then the Bobcats would go on a 7-0 run capped off with a couple of free throws from Keisha Snyder (Winnebago). The Bobcats would head to the fourth quarter clinging to a three-point lead.

The Bobcats in the fourth quarter extended their lead out to five on a couple of different occasions, but the pesky Pirates kept finding a way to stay in the game. The Pirates took the 53-52 lead with 5:30 to play. The Pirates and Bobcats went blow for blow in the waning stages of the game.

Duncan hit a huge three with 1:31 to go to put the Bobcats up four 59-55. The Pirates missed a three down on their end and would have to start fouling. Hailey Ingram (Omaha) made three out four free throws to put the Bobcats up 62-57 with 33 seconds to go.

Unfortunately, the Bobcats would miss their next four free throws to keep the Pirates in the game. The Pirates out of a timeout drove down the court and hit a game-tying buzzer-beating three pointer to send the game into overtime at 62-62.

Here is what head coach Ian Holleran said about the mindset the Bobcats took into overtime.

"Obviously a very crazy ending to regulation, my mind immediately flipped to we have to take back the momentum and win the game in overtime," said Holleran. "When I sat down to talk to the team before overtime, they took the words right from me and they said we are winning this game."
 
The overtime period started with a bang for the Bobcats as Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth) drilled a three to put the Bobcats up 65-62.  Park would not go away as they trimmed the lead down to one- and three-points multiple times in the extra session. Baumert made a huge layup with a minute to play to put the Bobcats up four.

The Bobcats needed one more defensive stand as they were winning 71-69 with 40 seconds left. The Pirates would miss a three and Julie Miller (Easton, Kansas) would come down with the huge defensive rebound. The Bobcats would hit three of four free throws down the stretch in overtime and would secure the 74-69 victory.
Here is what coach Holleran had to say about snapping the eight-game losing streak.

"It feels great, this losing streak has definitely been very tough, but the team has stayed focused and bought in to what we're trying do as a program," Holleran said. "All the credit to the ten players in that locker room for getting the job done last night."

Peru State shot 21-of-57 shooting 36.8%, while Park shot 25-of-69 shooting 36.2%. The Bobcats had a nice performance from beyond the arc as they were 9-of-22 shooting 40.9%. Park was 5-of-21 shooting 23.8%. Both teams did not shoot well from the line as Peru State was 23-of-38 shooting 60.5%, meanwhile Park shot 14-of-22 shooting 63.6%.

Leading the way for the Bobcats in scoring was Duncan with 22 points who was 50% from the three-point line. Ingram came second in scoring with 20 points, and she nearly contributed a double-double grabbing eight boards. The third player in double figures was Baumert as she finished with 11 points, she also was close to a double-double with seven rebounds. Miller led team in rebounds with 14.

Peru State will not be in action on Wednesday, February 2, at Missouri Valley College as that game has been moved to Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14, due to anticipated winter storm. Peru State will next see the court at home against Baker Saturday February 5 at 2:00 p.m. for Senior Day.