PERU, NE - The Peru State women's basketball team fell in a conference matchup to the Mount Mercy Mustangs in Peru, NE, on Saturday, 59-55. The Bobcats are now 1-1 in the Heart of America conference and 4-2 overall.

The Bobcats started out the first quarter slow but were able to keep up with the Mustangs. Samantha Stewart (Sr., Mount Ayr, IA) started out the second quarter with a layup assisted by Hailey Ingram (Jr., Omaha, NE). Samantha Stewart (Sr., Mount Ayr, IA) led the first half with six points and three rebounds with Hailey Ingram following closely with six points and two rebounds.  Kaylan Larry (Sr., Little Rock, AR) had four points and two rebounds for the Bobcats. The Bobcats were down going into half, 33-23.
 
In the third quarter, the Bobcats kept fighting, led by Maddy Duncan having the first two points for the Bobcats in the quarter. Duncan had eight points and three rebounds in the third, Josiee Sobotka (Jr., Tobia, NE) went 2/2 and put up five points for the Bobcats.
 
Hailey Ingram started the final quarter with a good 3-pointer as they continued to compete with the Mustangs. Ingram led the team with nine points and three rebounds in the stanza. The Bobcats cut the Mustangs' lead to only three points and continued to try and even the score. The Mustangs were able to hold them back in the final few seconds. The Bobcats took the loss 59-55.
 
At the end of the game, Hailey Ingram led the Bobcats with 17 points, five assists and five rebounds after her big fourth quarter burst. Maddy Duncan (Sr., Hamburg, IA) scored 13 points and collected six rebounds for the Bobcats. Sam Stewart had eight points and six rebounds, followed closely by Josiee Sobotka who had eight points and three rebounds. Kaylan Larry collected seven points and five rebounds on Saturday afternoon.
 
Next: The Bobcats travel to Atchison, KS, on Tuesday, November 21, to take on Benedictine College in their third conference game of the season. Tipoff is set for 5:30 PM. Go Bobcats!