Women's Basketball Earns Road win Over Peru State

Peru, Neb., (Feb. 7, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball team traveled to Peru, Neb., for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Peru State (Neb.), Saturday afternoon. The women's team finished out a 69-61 win. 

The women's game started with a pair of free throws from Sophomore Forward Lexi Fenstermacher (O'Fallon, Mo.) and a layup from Senior Center Sara Ortiz (La Roda, Spain). Junior Guard Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) followed with a jump shot moments later to make it an 8-4 score with over two minutes played. Fenstermacher added two free throws near the four-minute mark, but Peru State held Missouri Valley scoreless for nearly three-minutes to cut back into its deficit, 10-9.  Ortiz ended the MVC drought with a layup to send the team into the second quarter ahead, 12-11.

Play in the second quarter began with Peru State taking the lead, as the Bobcats went on a 6-0 run in just under two minutes of play to hold a 18-12 advantage.  The Vikings cut the gap down, as Fenstermacher made a layup, and Junior Guard Jessica Reeter (Chillicothe, Mo.) added the first three-pointer for MVC, 18-17.  Missouri Valley used another three-pointer from Reeter, and a basket each from Ortiz and Bostick midway through the quarter to reclaim the lead, 24-21.  The Vikings extended the lead with a layup from Reeter, followed by a three-point shot from Fenstermacher, 29-24.  Teams traded possession over the next stretch of play, and the next basket for Missouri Valley came from Sophomore Guard Seilani Relford (Aurora, Colo.) near the two-minutes mark, 31-24.  The advantage grew to double-digits, as Reeter added a three-pointer, and Senior Guard Sophie Sullivan (Lombard, Ill.) made a free throw to keep MVC on top, 35-25.  The final point of the quarter for Missouri Valley came on a layup from Ortiz, and the team held a 37-27 lead at halftime.

The Vikings began the third quarter with one layup apiece from both Fenstermacher and Reeter to stay ahead, 41-27.  Missouri Valley used five points from Reeter and a jump shot from Bostick to outscore PSC by a 7-2 margin over the next several minutes.  Fenstermacher added a free throw with over four minutes remaining, and moments later Senior Center Gabriela Modeva (Ohrid, Macedonia) posted a block, which led to an Ortiz layup to make it a 51-35 score.  Peru State was held to only six points in the final three minutes of play, where Bostick made a jumper and Modeva had two more blocks to put the team ahead at 53-41 going into the fourth quarter.

Reeter added to the MVC lead to start scoring in the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-pointers in the opening three minutes of play, 59-45.  Missouri Valley continued to increase their advantage, as both Ortiz and Reeter made a layup each in the next minute, 63-48.  Both teams struggled to score points over the next stretch of play, with a jumper from Freshman Bianca Sarbu (Bucharest, Romania) as the only field goal through nearly three minutes to make it a 65-51 score.  The Vikings added a layup from Reeter and a pair of free throws from Sullivan in the final minutes of play.  Peru State worked back, and cut the deficit down to 69-69 with a minute remaining, but the Bobcats were unable to come back, and Missouri Valley eventually finished out a 69-61 win.

Reeter led with 28 points, followed by Fenstermacher with her second double-double of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.  Ortiz added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Bostick totaled eight points, and Modeva had four blocks.  Missouri Valley held a 43-33 advantage in rebounds and held Peru State to 31-percent shooting from the floor.

Missouri Valley improves to 14-9 overall and 11-5 in the Heart.  Peru State drops to 10-7 on the season and 13-11 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking men's and women's basketball team will travel to St. Louis, Mo., for a Heart doubleheader with Missouri Baptist, Wednesday.  Women's game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.