(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State women's basketball team defeated William Penn 59-48 on Wednesday night. The Bobcats are now 6-10 overall and 2-8 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Statesmen are now 7-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
Each team got off to a slow start as neither team scored for the first four minutes of the first quarter. Hailey Ingram (Omaha) tied the game at 2-2 with around six minutes and 30 seconds to play in the first.
 
The game would then be tied at six all before the Bobcats went on a 5-0 run nearing the end of the quarter. Contributing to the run was a basket by Olivia Williams (Minneapolis, Minn.) and three-pointer by Madison Camden (Glenwood, Iowa) to make the score 11-6 Bobcats.
 
The Statesmen would get within two twice more at the end of the first, but the Bobcats would lead 15-11 after one from a Sam Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) lay-in.
 
The Statesmen tied the game at 15 apiece three minutes into the second quarter. The Bobcats then went on a 7-2 run to take a 22-17 lead. Contributing to the run were baskets by Williams, Julie Miller (Easton, Kan.) and a three by Camden.
 
Both teams then went ice cold for the next three minutes of play. The Bobcats took a 23-20 lead into the break.
 
The Bobcats came out hot to start the second half propelled by a 19-4 run to take a 42-24 lead with under five minutes to play. Contributing to the run were baskets by Stewart, Jescenia Mosley (Shenandoah, Iowa),  three threes by Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) and free throws from Danielle Howard (Uniontown, Kan.) and Stewart.
 
William Penn answered back with a run of its own towards the end of the third quarter with an 11-5 run as they trailed 49-35 going into the final quarter of play.
 
The Statesmen continued their run into the fourth with seven more points as the final run between the two quarters was 18-5 to cut into the Bobcat lead as they were trailing 49-42 with around six minutes to play in the game.
 
The Bobcats then went on a 6-0 run of their own as they took a 13-point 55-42 lead after a Kaylan Larry (Little Rock, Ark.) jump shot. William Penn then cut the lead down to nine 57-48 with around three minutes to play.
 
Peru State held on for the 59-48 win.
 
Peru State shot 25-of-56 from the field shooting 44.6%, 5-of-24 from beyond the arc shooting 20.8% and 4-of-11 from the line shooting 36.4%.

William Penn shot 18-of-50 from the field shooting 36%, 4-of-15 from deep shooting 26.7% and 8-of-12 from the charity stripe shooting 66.7%.
 
Peru State outscored William Penn 34-24 in the paint, 14-11 in points off turnovers and 25-16 in bench points.
 
Stewart led the way in points with 12, Duncan finished with nine, Mosley and Camden finished with eight apiece. Miller led the way in rebounds with nine. Howard finished with a team high four assists.
 
Peru State has a tall task in front of them as they make the long trek to face No. 8 Clarke. Tip-Off is scheduled for Noon in Dubuque, Iowa.