Pride cruise to 91-65 win over Peru State

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Looking to get back to 10 games above the .500 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, the Clarke University women's basketball team rolled to a 91-65 win over Peru State College Wednesday night at the Kehl Center.

The Pride used a huge 26-7 second quarter to pull ahead 53-25 at the halftime break as they shot 64.3 percent from the field in the period also limiting the Bobcats to just two field goals in the second quarter as they shot 2-for-16 (12.5%) over the 10 minutes.

That large lead after two quarters allowed CU to use their bench throughout most of the second half as the starters were able to get a significant amount of rest in the late stages of the season with no starter playing more than 23 minutes in the game.

Those limited minutes didn't stop the Pride starters from nearly all scoring in double figures as Giana Michels led the team with 15 points, Emma Kelchen had 13 and nine rebounds, Nicole McDermott had 11 points, Skylar Culbertson finished with 10, and Tina Ubl was just short of double digits at 9 points.

Off the bench, both Mya Merschman and Taylor Haase scored 11 points with Lilly Schilling adding three, Rebecca Schroeder scoring three, Halle Boldt and Izzie Peterson both scoring two points, and Anisha Vondenkamp finishing with a point.

Hailey Ingram of Peru State led all scorers with 19 points as Samantha Stewart and Maddy Duncan supported Ingram in double figures with 13 and 10 apiece but no other Bobcat scored more than six in the game.

Clarke women's basketball will play their final home game of the regular season this Friday when Culver-Stockton College comes to the Kehl Center for a 5:30 p.m. CT tip.