(Peru, Neb.)---Peru State could not overcome 25 turnovers as it fell to Graceland in a defensive low scoring battle on Wednesday night. The Bobcats are now 5-9 overall and 1-7 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play while the Yellowjackets improve to 8-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
In the early going it was a back-and-forth affair as the Bobcats were hanging on to a 11-8 lead after back-to-back layups from Natasha Deal (Winnebago) with around five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets towards the end of the first quarter were on a 8-2 run leading 19-13 before Sam Stewart (Mount Ayr, Iowa) made a layup with under 30 seconds to play.
 
Peru State came out to start the second quarter as they went on a 10-2 run to take a 25-21 lead. Contributing to the run were baskets by Jescenia Mosley (Shenandoah, Iowa), Josiee Sobotka (Tobias), Kaylan Larry (Little Rock, Ark.) and Maddy Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa).
 
The Yellowjackets then got the score within one but Sobotka scored a bucket to get the lead back out to three leading 27-24 with around two minutes to play in the first half. The Yellowjackets took a 29-28 lead into the half after going on an 8-2 run.
 
Peru State retook the lead immediately to start the third quarter after a layup from Hailey Ingram (Omaha) to make the score 30-29. The teams would then traded baskets for the next few minutes, the Bobcats stretched their lead out to three after a layup from Mosley to make the score 37-34 with six and half minutes to go in the third.
 
Bobcats and Yellowjackets once again traded buckets, the Bobcats were in the lead with under three minutes to go after a layup from Stewart. The Bobcats then could not buy a basket for the final two minutes and the Yellowjackets hit a three with ten seconds left in the third quarter to take a 43-41 lead going into the final quarter of play.
 
Graceland continued a run into the fourth quarter with three straight threes and a free throw as they took a 50-41 lead going on a 10-0 run with around seven minutes to go in the fourth.
 
The Bobcats were then able to go on a 9-3 run to cut the deficit to four after a Duncan jumper and Mosley free throw with three and half minutes to go. Graceland hit back-to-back threes to put a dagger into Peru State as they lead 59-51.
 
The Yellowjackets finished the game on a 10-2 run finishing the game 63-53.
 
Peru State shot 22-of-68 from the field shooting 32.4%, 1-of-9 from beyond the arc shooting 11.1% and 8-of-16 from the line shooting 50%. Graceland shot 19-of-65 from the field shooting 29.2%, 11-of-33 from deep shooting 33.3% an 14-of-21 from the charity stripe shooting 66.7%.

Peru State outscored Graceland 30-8 in the paint, Graceland had 20 points off 25 turnovers from Peru State, the Bobcats put in 14 points off 20 Yellowjacket turnovers. Graceland outscored Peru State 24-16 off the bench.
 
Mosley led the way in scoring with 14 as well as rebounds with eight nearing a double-double. Duncan and Stewart finished with 10 points each. Stewart finished with eight steals.
 
Peru State has a tall task as they try to defend home court against No. 4 Central Methodist Saturday, January 7. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.