BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – It was the most points the Lady Peregrines had scored in a half all season, one more than their best offensive output against Bethel College two games into the 2006-07 season. Yet the 42-second half points were not enough to overcome a 45-21 halftime deficit in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference road game for Purdue University Calumet. For the first time since the loss to Bethel College last November, the Lady Peregrines (4-14 overall, 0-4 CCAC) were able to string together two 20-minute periods of solid offense. The team shot nearly 44 percent in the first half and cranked it up to 50 percent in the second half. But it’s difficult to match Olivet Nazarene University offensively; a team averaging 101 points per game this season.

The 77 points by the CCAC standings leading Tigers (11-10, 5-0) was their lowest offensive output of the season, a credit to PUC Head Coach Dennis Smith’s defensive strategy.

“Everybody tries to run with Olivet, and if you get caught up in that type of game, they’ll score 120 points every time,” Smith said. “They lead the country in team scoring average, so you just can’t allow them fastbreaks and easy three-point attempts. We played a smart defensive game and came up a little short on the scoreboard.”

The Lady Peregrines’ Linsey Smith (Lake Central), the team’s scoring leader, finished with 21 points matching her season high mark. The junior guard also grabbed five rebounds, had three assists and a pair of steals in the loss. Sophomore LaKeisha Hurst (Dover, Del.) continued to improve her offensive game scoring her season high 13, while shooting 60 percent from the field. She had four steals, two rebounds and one shot block.

Senior co-captain Jessica Hamman (Highland) scored above her season average (9.8 points per game) finishing with 12 points, three steals and two assists. Hamman grabbed 14 rebounds to lead both teams on the glass. She leads the Lady Peregrines with 143 total rebounds, an 8.4 per game average. Junior co-captain Shannon Dugan (Mother McAuley) chipped in eight points shooting 50 percent from the field. Dugan also had seven assists and one steal in the contest.

The Lady Peregrines are home for their next two contests. Thursday they host Trinity International (7-13) at 7 p.m. in a nonconference match-up. Saturday the Lady Peregrines play in the feature game during the 2006-07 Purdue University Calumet Homecoming contest at 7 p.m. in a CCAC battle with the Illinois Institute of Technology. An alumni vs. faculty and staff game precedes at 5 p.m.