Women's Basketball Falls Late to Culver-Stockton

Canton, Mo., (Jan. 10, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Canton, Mo., Wednesday evening, for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).  The women's team fell late to the Wildcats, 65-61, while the men's team earned a 62-57 victory.

After briefly falling behind at the start of the women's game, Missouri Valley bounced back for a 10-0 run.  Freshman Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) scored four points, followed by a pair of three-pointers from Sophomore Sophie Sullivan (Lombard, Ill.) to put the team in front, 10-1, with just over four minutes played.  Sophomore Mackenzie Mann (Oak Grove, Mo.) added a basket, while Junior Gia Moore (Independence, Mo.) sank a three-pointer to make it a 15-3 advantage past the four-minute mark.  Junior Maddie Ferrara (Hendersonville, Tenn.) made a three-point shot to close out scoring in the quarter and send MVC into the second quarter at a 19-11 score.  

Culver-Stockton closed its gap to 21-15 with just over one minute played in the second quarter.  Sullivan put in the next basket for the VIkings, with a free throw from Junior Kiara Williams (Shawnee, Kan.) stretching the lead out to 24-15 with nearly three minutes off the clock.  Sullivan scored the next five points for Missouri Valley to keep the team on top, 29-21 at the four-minute mark.  The advantage reached double-digits one minute later on a three-point shot from Ferrara, 32-22.  Moore added a layup and a three-point basket as MVC went into halftime with a 37-26 lead.

The third quarter opened with a quick basket from Mann, along with a pair of free throws from Bostick to keep the team on top, 41-28, with nearly two minutes played.  The Wildcats answered with seven-straight points to make it a 41-35 deficit, then tied the contest at 43-43 past the four-minute mark.  Culver-Stockton eventually claimed a 45-43 lead, and the two teams traded points over the final stretch of play in the quarter.  Sullivan scored four points and Moore made a three-point shot to help the Vikings go on top heading into the fourth quarter, 50-49.

Moore added to the advantage early in the final quarter of play with a pair of three-pointers to make it a 56-49 score near the seven-minute mark.  Five points from Sullivan set the MVC lead at 61-52 just over one minute later.  However, the Vikings were kept scoreless through the rest of the game as Culver-Stockton ended with a 13-0 run.  Missouri Valley fell by a final score of 65-61.

Sullivan led with a season-high 24 points and eight rebounds.  Moore recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Missouri Valley held a 43-30 advantage in rebounds and forced 13 turnovers.

Missouri Valley falls to 9-6 overall and 7-4 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton improes to 5-10 on the season and 4-7 in the conference.

Up next, the Missouri Valley basketball teams will host Grand View (Iowa) in a Heart doubleheader, Saturday inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Women's game at 12 p.m., followed by the men's game at 2 p.m.

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About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.