(Parkville, Mo.)- Erison Vonderschmidt scored a game-high 26 points and Peru State closed strong in the fourth quarter to earn a 64-57 road win over Park on Wednesday night.
The Bobcats trailed late in the first quarter and faced multiple deficits into the second half before seizing control in the final minutes. With Peru State clinging to a one-point lead in the closing stretch, Vonderschmidt attacked the lane for a go-ahead layup with 1:52 remaining that put the visitors in front 58-57. She then knocked down free throws on the next Peru State possession to extend the margin, and the Bobcats converted at the line and added a last-second fastbreak layup to secure the seven-point victory.
Peru State finished 25-for-52 from the field (48.1 percent) and used its size and efficiency inside to offset 26 turnovers against Park's pressure. The Bobcats dominated the glass with a 47-31 rebounding advantage, including 34 defensive boards that limited Park's second-chance scoring. Center Kylie Diaz posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds while adding six blocks and six assists, anchoring Peru State's interior defense and facilitating the offense from the post.
Vonderschmidt set the tone early, scoring the first basket of the game on a layup assisted by guard Dakota Haner, but Park responded and closed the first quarter with a 16-14 lead after a transition layup by Nevaeh Spillman in the final seconds. Park pushed its advantage into the second quarter before Peru State started to chip away from the perimeter. Guard MaKinley Tobey buried a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 26-17, and Vonderschmidt followed with a 3-pointer moments later to trim the margin to 28-20 and steady the Bobcats heading into halftime.
The third quarter featured multiple swings in momentum. Vonderschmidt connected again from beyond the arc at the 4:47 mark, giving Peru State its first lead of the period at 40-37 as the Bobcats' defense tightened in the half court. A late Park layup pushed the hosts back in front 44-41 in the closing seconds of the quarter. Still, Peru State's defensive presence around the rim, highlighted by Diaz's six blocks, continued to disrupt Park's attempts in the lane and helped set up the decisive fourth-quarter push.
In the final quarter, Peru State outscored Park 21-13, repeatedly finding Vonderschmidt and Diaz in advantageous matchups. After Vonderschmidt's late layup and free throws created separation, the Bobcats closed the game by protecting the defensive glass and taking care of their final possessions. With four seconds left, guard/forward Savannah Bingham capped the night with a fastbreak layup to seal the 64-57 final.
