Women's Basketball Pulls Away from Peru State on Senior Day

Marshall, Mo., (Feb. 10, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams hosted Peru State (Neb.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader on Senior Day inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  The women's team finished out a 79-65 victory, while the men's team fell, 91-71.

Scoring for Missouri Valley in the women's game started with a pair of made field goals from Junior Rajone Callahan (Wichita, Kan.) and Junior Maddie Ferrara (Hendersonville, Tenn.) to keep the teams tied at 4-4 with just over two minutes played.  Callahan followed with a three-pointer, while Junior Noa Fernandez (Castrenada, Spain) added three more points as Peru State was held scoreless through a more than three-minute stretch of play to help the Vikings go in front, 10-4, midway through the quarter.  A basket from Freshman Jocelyn Thompson (Austin, Texas) and a three-point shot from Junior Gia Moore (Independence, Mo.) kept MVC on top, 15-9, near the one-minute mark in the quarter.  Junior Kiara Williams (Olathe, Kan) added a late jump shot, while Callahan tacked on four more points as the quarter came to an end with a double-digit Missouri Valley advantage, 21-11.

An early steal from Williams set up Senior Blanca Alcalde (Salamanca, Spain) with a fast-break layup to extend the lead to 23-11 one minute into the second quarter.  Sophomore Sophie Sullivan (Lombard, Ill.) added a three-point play, while both Moore and Callahan came through with one layup each over the next stretch to make it a 30-15 score near the six-minute mark.  One basket from Moore and Fernandez, and one free throw from Williams put the advantage at 35-19 with less than four minutes to play in the half.  Peru State responded with a 7-0 run over the next two minutes, and eventually worked its deficit down to single-digits, 37-28.  Williams came through with a layup to end the MVC drought, while Callahan secured an offensive rebound and late field goal to send the Vikings into halftime ahead, 41-28.

Fernandez finished off a layup for the first points of the third quarter less than one minute after the restart, but Missouri Valley went scoreless over the next two minutes as Peru State closed the gap down to 43-32.  Callahan ended the drought with a basket nearly three minutes into the quarter, followed by a three-pointer from Sullivan to make it a 48-34 advantage nearing the midway point of the third.  Williams came through with a layup, and Moore forced a steal and ended the play with a fast-break basket to push the lead out to 52-36 with just over four minutes remaining.  The Bobcats worked down their deficit again, this time to 54-43 near the two-minute mark.  Moore came up with another steal, and a series of offensive rebounds eventually led to a three-pointer from Callahan, with Williams adding another three-point basket in the final minute to make it a 60-43 score.  Peru State added the last basket of the quarter, and trailed, 60-45.

Callahan scored the opening two field goals of the fourth quarter for MVC, and the team held a 64-40 advantage with three minutes played.  Moore then added the next six points for the Vikings, making it a 70-56 lead near the four-minute mark.  Five late points from Moore held off any rally attempt for Peru State, and sealed a 79-65 win.

Moore led with 24 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists.  Callahan registered her second double-double of the season, with 22 points and 10 rebounds.  Sullivan added 10 points and five rebounds, while Williams came off the bench to score 10 points.  Missouri Valley shot over 51-percent from the floor, and limited the Bobcats to 35-percent shooting.  The Vikings also held a 47-27 advantage in rebounds.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 11-13 overall and 9-11 in the Heart.  Peru State falls to 10-14 on the season and 7-13 in the conference.  The Vikings sweep the season series, previously earning a 92-78 win over Peru State in Peru, Neb., back on Dec. 9.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams host Central Methodist (Mo.), Wednesday, in a Heart doubleheader inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Women's game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.  The women's team earned a 95-93 win over the Eagles back on Jan. 3 in Fayette, Mo.

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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.