Women's Basketball Earns OT Win Over Central Methodist

Marshall, Mo., (Jan. 29, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams hosted Central Methodist (Mo.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader inside the Burns Athletic Complex, Wednesday evening.  The Viking women's team went to overtime and earned a 65-59 win.  The men's team held off the Eagles for an 82-81 victory.

Both teams struggled to create points in the first quarter of the women's game.  Missouri Valley made just three field goals in the quarter, on a pair of baskets from Sophomore Ricarda Schott (Krefeld, Germany) along with another jumper from Senior Ylenia Exposito (Tenerife, Canary Islands), as the team trailed, 12-6, going into the second quarter of play.

The Vikings held CMU scoreless through more than three minutes of play to start the second quarter, while a pair of layups from Schott helped the team close the gap to 12-11.  Central Methodist stretched out its lead through the midway point of the quarter, out to 19-13.  Freshman Seilani Relford (Aurora, Colo.) added the next made jumper for MVC, with just over two minutes remaining in the half, but the team still trailed, 19-16.  A steal by Exposito led to a fast-break from Senior Giavanna Moore (Independence, Mo.) to close scoring in the half, and Missouri Valley went into the break behind, 22-18.

The two teams traded points as play resumed in the third quarter, which featured two made layups from Exposito and another basket from Schott to keep the Vikings within a 27-24 score with just over three minutes played.  Senior Rajone Callahan (Wichita, Kan.) helped MVC tie the contest over the next stretch of play, with a made jumper, followed by a steal that led to a fast-break Moore basket to make it 28-28 with just over three minutes to play in the quarter.  The Vikings took their first lead of the game moments later on two made free throws from Moore.  Freshman Lexi Fenstermacher (O'Fallon, Mo.) added one more free throw to put the advantage at 31-28 late in the third, but CMU scored the final four points to go back in front, 32-31, entering the fourth quarter.

After a quick layup from Central Methodist to open the fourth quarter, Missouri Valley used four points from Moore and a jumper from Freshman D'Ajha Horton (Aurora, Colo.) to move back on top, 37-34 at the eight-minute mark.  The Eagles responded with an 11-0 run over a nearly four-minute stretch of play to build up a 45-37 lead.  Exposito ended the scoring drought for MVC with a layup, and Callahan added four points to close the gap down to 45-43 with just over two minutes to play in regulation.  Another pair of free throws from Callahan one-minute later tied the teams at 45-45, and a Horton jumper in the final 30-seconds kept the teams tied at 47-47.  Missouri Valley forced a turnover on the final CMU possession, but a last second shot from Senior Noa Fernandez (Castaneda, Spain) missed, and the game went into overtime, tied at 47-47.

The opening possession of the overtime period featured a three-pointer from Horton, who then came back less than one-minute later with another made basket to put the Vikings ahead, 52-47.  Horton extended the advantage midway through the period, on a three-point play.  Missouri Valley held on to its lead over the next stretch, as both Fernandez and Exposito added a pair of free throws to make it a 59-52 score near the final minute.  Horton came through with another field goal, and Moore made two free throw attempts to keep MVC in front, 63-57 in the closing moments.  A late steal and fast-break layup from Moore helped close out the game, as the Vikings earned a 65-59 win.

Horton led by scoring 15 points, going 6 of 6 from the field, and grabbing six rebounds off the bench.  Moore totaled 14 points, five assists and four steals.  Schott had 12 points and Exposito added 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.  Callahan led with 11 rebounds, and scored eight points.  Missouri Valley forced 20 turnovers in the game, and held a 40-38 edge in rebounds.

Missouri Valley improves to 17-4 overall and 13-4 in the Heart.  Central Methodist drops to 7-15 on the season and 4-14 in the conference.  The Vikings sweep the season series, having won back on Nov. 26 in Fayette, Mo., 72-63.

Up next, the Viking men's and women's basketball teams will travel to Canton, Mo., for a Heart doubleheader with Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Monday evening.  Women's game at 5:30 p.m., men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

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.