by LAWRENCE, KS – The Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) women’s basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit and a sloppy first half to mount a massive fourth-quarter comeback, defeating the Peru State Bobcats 74-69 in a game that came down to the final minute.
Bobcats Dominate the Opening Half
Peru State came out strong, establishing an early lead behind the interior presence of Kylie Diaz and Erison Vonderschmidt. The Bobcats used an early 10-2 run in the first quarter, fueled by layups and free throws, while HINU struggled to find an offensive rhythm and committed multiple turnovers.
By the second quarter, Peru State pushed their advantage to a game-high 10 points (27-17) with Diaz continuing to capitalize on paint opportunities. Despite three second-quarter turnovers from the Bobcats, Haskell could only manage to chip away slightly, with layups from Alana Stephens, and Jayla Flient. Peru State took a comfortable, but not insurmountable, 31-25 lead into the halftime break.
A Back-and-Forth Third Sets Up the Finale
The third quarter saw the teams trade baskets and momentum. A three-pointer from HINU’s Ciahna Oatman tightened the score to 35-30 early on, but Peru State responded with a 9-2 run, maintaining a cushion through the period thanks to layups from Savannah Bingham and Vonderschmidt. As the quarter closed, HINU kept it close, ending the third down 49-43, setting the stage for a dramatic final period.
Fox and Penn Lead the Stunner
Haskell’s defense and perimeter scoring exploded in the fourth quarter. After Peru State extended the lead to 53-44, HINU’s Ona Dauphinais hit a crucial three-pointer with 7:06 left to make it a one-possession game (53-51).
The crucial blow came late in the quarter when the HINU defense applied suffocating pressure, forcing four Peru State turnovers in the final five minutes. Guard Tierzah Penn recorded multiple steals, creating transition opportunities.
Ivy Fox was unstoppable, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to pull HINU even, and then pouring in several clutch layups, including the go-ahead basket (66-67). With the momentum fully shifted, HINU extended the lead through free throws, finishing the game on a 31-20 fourth-quarter run to seal the 74-69 victory.
Leading Scorers Summary
The comeback victory was spearheaded by Ivy Fox of Haskell Indian Nations, who led all scorers with 32 points, featuring her clutch fourth-quarter performance that included two three-pointers and the game-winning free throw. HINU also received a key 16 points from Ona Dauphinais, whose crucial three-pointer helped cut the deficit in the final period. For the Peru State Bobcats, the offense was led by Erison Vonderschmidt with 21 points, providing consistent interior scoring. Kylie Diaz added 17 points with a strong presence in the paint, particularly in the first half, while Taydem Miller contributed 10 points, including a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Final Score: Haskell Indian Nations University 74, Peru State 69.
