OMAHA, Neb. – Peru State College forced eight turnovers in the first quarter to build a double-digit lead, and went on to post an 80-51 nonconference basketball victory over College of Saint Mary Tuesday night as part of the CSM Classic at the Lied Fitness Center.

For the game, the Bobcats forced 21 turnovers and held a 22-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

"We've got to get a little tougher,'' CSM Coach Natalie Miller said. "We just didn't take care of the ball. They're a really scrappy team.''

Peru State (1-0) led 26-10 at the 7:34 mark of the second quarter and wasn't seriously threatened from there. The Bobcats placed four players in double figures, led by MaKinley Tobey's 20.

The Flames (0-2) outscored Peru State by five points in the fourth quarter. Miller liked what she saw out of some of her reserves, as the battle continues for playing time.

"We had a lot of players coming off the bench that were playing really hard, that were super competitive, that fought the whole game,'' she said. "So I'm really proud of them, specifically Freda (Moore) and Makenna (Earnest). And G (Madelyn Gaughen) is always one of the toughest players that always wants to win.''

Gaughen led the Flames with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Meghan Keil added nine points, while Adriana McGee contributed eight points, three rebounds and three assists.

After hitting 10 of 28 3-pointers (35.7%) in an opening-night loss to William Penn, CSM made just 2 of 18 (11.1%) from distance on Tuesday.

The CSM Classic continues with games on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the Flames will meet McPherson College at 6 p.m., while Peru State and McPherson will wrap things up here Friday at 6.