Thursday 28th March 2024

mvc-basketball-missouri-valley-college-1000x563

The Missouri Valley College women’s basketball team traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, November 28, for a Heart of America Athletic Conference contest with Mount Mercy (Iowa).  The two teams were tied at halftime, but the Vikings pulled away in the second half to earn a 68-61 win.

Mount Mercy built up an early 5-0 lead, with just over one-minute played in the contest.  The first field goal for Missouri Valley came from Senior Guard Shalina Harper (Helper, Kan.), who sank a three-pointer to bring MVC to a one-point deficit, at 5-4, one minute later.  The Mustangs answered by scoring five-straight points to hold a 10-4 advantage near the six-minute mark.  Senior Forward Ariel Miller (Maple Valley, Wash.) ended the MVC drought with a pair of free throws, but Mount Mercy followed with a 7-0 run to build up a 17-6 lead with under four minutes to play in the half.  The Vikings came back with a run of their own, which was started on a field goal from Senior Demetria Heard (Houston, Texas).  Heard then sank three shots from the free-throw line, while Senior Forward Shanelle Tolley (Hope Island, Australia) made a pair of free throws to close the gap to 17-14 late in the quarter.  Senior Center Hannah Stephens (Hallsville, Mo.) made a field goal moments later, and the score sat at 19-18.  The Mustangs closed by extending their lead to 22-18 going into the second quarter.

Missouri Valley’s deficit grew to 27-18 in the opening minute of the second quarter, but three points from Tolley made it a 27-21 score just past the eight-minute mark.  The two teams traded points over the next stretch of play.  Stephens cut into the MMU lead with a field goal to make the score 32-25 with just over four minutes to play in the half.  Tolley then made two-straight baskets, and Junior Center Kayla Nelson (Warrenton, Mo.) added points-in-the-paint to put the Mustang lead at 32-31 in the final two minutes of the quarter.  After Mount Mercy put its lead out to three points, Harper tied the game at 34-34 with a three-point basket to close out the half, and send the teams into halftime tied.  Missouri Valley forced the Mustangs into 10 turnovers in the first half.

The first lead of the game for the Vikings came with just over one minute played after the break, as Tolley put together a three-point play to make it a 37-36 score.  A Heard basket just past the six-minute mark put the MVC advantage at 41-39.    Mount Mercy kept the Vikings to only one field goal over the next three minutes, and eventually held a 50-44 lead with less than two minutes to play in the quarter.  Tolley made a late field goal, and Nelson sank one free throw, but Missouri Valley trailed at the end of the quarter, 50-47.

The two teams traded points at the start of the fourth quarter, with a three-pointer from Harper putting the Vikings back on top, 56-55 near the seven-minute mark.  Missouri Valley continued to put together a run, as Harper sank another three-point attempt, while Heard and Tolley both made field goals to set the advantage at 63-55 with under four minutes to play in the game.  The Mustangs chipped into their deficit, eventually trailing, 65-61, in the final minute, but Miller sank a pair of free throws in the closing moments, and Stephens blocked a three-point attempt to help seal the victory  Tolley added one more late free throw and Missouri Valley earned a 68-61 win.

Tolley earned her second double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and tying a career-high with 16 rebounds.  Stephens added the first double-double of her career, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.  Harper added 12 points, and Heard came off the bench to score 11 points.  Miller finished with 11 rebounds and seven points.  Missouri Valley shot over 46-percent in the second half, and limited Mount Mercy to 31-percent shooting.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in the Heart.  Mount Mercy falls to 0-1 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking women’s basketball team will host Park (Mo.) in a Heart contest, Monday at 6 p.m., inside the Burns Athletic Complex.