(Peru, Neb.)—No. 14 Clarke was too much for the Peru State women's basketball team Wednesday night. The Bobcats fell to the Pride 95-61. Peru State is now 10-14 overall and 5-10 in conference play. The Pride are 23-4 and 14-2 in conference play.

In the first quarter the Bobcats hung tough with the Pride, Clarke jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Bobcats would settle in. The Bobcats would cut the lead to 4 and 5 early in the first quarter the latter coming from a jumper by Hailey Ingram (Omaha) to make the score 11-6.

Later in the first, the Pride would extend their lead to ten on a few occasions but each time the Bobcats would cut the lead. The Bobcats went on a 5-0 run capped off by an old school three-point play from Ingram. The second time the Bobcats would cut the lead down from ten in the first was from another three by Ingram to make the score 21-15 with just under three minutes to play.

The Pride would lead the Bobcats at the end of the first quarter 27-18. The second quarter is when the lead got out of hand for the Bobcats as they would only score seven points. The Pride started the second quarter with a 12-0 run and the Bobcats would not get their first bucket of the quarter until Jescenia Mosley (Shenandoah, Iowa) had a and-one bucket off the assist from Maddy Duncan. (Hamburg, Iowa) with 6:29 to play.

The teams would trade buckets in the middle stages of the second, the Bobcats were unable to stop the Pride from scoring for much of the night. The Pride ended the half on a 10-0 run as they would head into the half with a 53-25 lead.

The third quarter started out well for the Bobcats as they went on a quick 5-0 run finished off by a Duncan three-pointer. Then the Pride offense woke up as they went on another long run this time going on a 15-0 run to extend their lead to 28 points leading 68-30 with 5:36 to play in the third.

The Bobcats would answer with a 13-3 run of their own to end the third quarter capped off by a three-point shot from Libby Baumert (Plattsmouth). Unfortunately, the Bobcats had already dug themselves too much of a hole as they were still down 28 heading into the final quarter of play.

Early in the fourth quarter Clarke made a platoon swap and subbed out its entire starting lineup. In beginning stages of the final quarter, the Bobcats and the Pride traded baskets. The Clarke lead was too insurmountable for Peru State to try and comeback as they fell 91-65 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Here is what head coach Ian Holleran had to say about playing a top 25 team on the road with a young core.

"Clarke is one of the toughest places to play in the conference, and they are a very talented team," said Holleran. "I thought we came out and battled for a quarter, but they made a run in the second (quarter) we just couldn't respond to."

Holleran continued

"I think this is a learning experience for our team to see where we need to get to." We have a quick turnaround to play another top team in Grand View Saturday. We will learn from this and get better."

The Bobcats were 23-of-63 from the floor as they shot 36.5%, the Pride shot lights out as they were 31-of-61 shooting 50.8%. It was a tough night for the Bobcats from beyond the arc as they were just 4-of-15 good for 26.7%, The Pride's hot shooting continued from beyond the arc as they were 9-of-20 shooting 45%. Both teams went to the line a fair amount as the Bobcats were 15-of-23 shooting 65.2% from the stripe, the Pride were 20-of-28 shooting 71.4%.

Three Bobcats were in double-figures on the night as Ingram led the way with 19 points followed by Stewart who finished with 13 and Duncan finished the double-figure scoring with 10.

Peru State will be traveling back to Iowa as they head to Des Moines to face Grand View Saturday afternoon.