FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Relations Contact:
Andy Pulverenti
sports information director
MVC BASKETBALL TEAMS SPLIT GAMES WITH CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY
Marshall, Mo. (January 10, 2012)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Fayette, Mo. Thursday night for a Heart of America Athletic Conference double-header with Central Methodist University. The Lady Vikings gave the No. 17 ranked Lady Eagles all they could handle, but fell short in the 64-57 defeat. The men's team controlled most their game, breaking a three game losing streak, with an 81-70 win.
The Lady Vikings started things off against No. 17 CMU quickly, taking control of the game right from the opening tip-off. The Lady Vikings scored first, and eventually built up their largest lead of five points seven minutes into the first half off two Senior Center Cara Clark (Omaha, Neb.) free-throws. The two teams traded baskets until CMU went on an 11-3 run over a nearly six minute stretch midway through the first half to build up a five point lead of their own at 24-19 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Vikings played even with CMU from there, going into the halftime break down by a 28-23 score. The Lady Vikings kept CMU to under 30-percent shooting from the field in the half, and forced eight turnovers.
To start the second half, CMU got up by seven points, but the Lady Vikings began chipping away at the lead. Eventually, the Vikings took a 40-38 lead after Freshman Guard Rayna Smith (St. Louis, Mo.) hit one of her two three-point field-goals with just over 12-minutes remaining in the game. CMU was not phased after giving up the lead, and went on an 11-1 run over a nearly seven minute stretch to retake the lead and put MVC down by their largest deficit to that point at 49-41. Smith eventually pulled MVC to within one point at 52-51 with her second three-pointer at the 3:29 mark, but the Lady Eagles were able to hit free-throws down the stretch and hold off MVC for the 64-57 victory.
Leading the way for the Lady Vikings was Clark who finished with 16 points. Also in double-digits was Senior Forward Gabi Morales (Bakersfield, Calif.) with 12 points and seven rebounds. Morales, the leader in blocked shots in the HAAC, added five more blocked shots in the game. Smith also added 12 points and seven rebounds. MVC limited CMU to just 30-percent shooting from the floor, while forcing 14 turnovers.
The loss drops the Lady Vikings to 4-13 overall and 1-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The No. 17 Lady Eagles improve to 16-1 overall and sit atop the HAAC with a 5-1 conference mark.
In the men's game, despite CMU getting the first points on the board, the Vikings took control of the game from there, and never looked back. The Vikings took their first lead at 5-2 after Senior Michael Connor (Ft. Worth, Texas) hit a three-pointer just three minutes into the game. MVC gradually added to their lead in the first half, building up to a 34-21 advantage with four minutes remaining in the first half. Despite the large deficit, CMU was able to put together an 11-2 run to end the half, but the Vikings went into the locker room with a 36-32 lead. The Vikings shot over 55-percent in the first half, while limiting CMU to just over 38-percent.
In the early stages of the second half, CMU chipped away at the Viking lead, eventually making it a two point MVC advantage at 40-38 around the 16-minute mark. The Vikings responded and put together a 13-5 run over the next four minutes to extend their lead to double-digits. The two teams traded baskets over the rest of the second half. CMU would never get closer than a six-point deficit, with MVC up by most double-digits after the midway point in the half. The Vikings got their first HAAC victory of the season with the 81-70 final score.
Leading the way for MVC was the HAAC's leading scorer Freshman Jordan Epps (Springfield, Mo.) Epps finished with 17 points, three assists, and three steals. Also in double-figures for the Vikings included Junior Law Brown (Chicago, Ill.) with 14 points and six rebounds, Connor with 11 points and four rebounds, and Junior Kendall Hays (Houston, Texas) with 10 points and four rebounds in his first action of the season. The Vikings shot over 55-percent in the game, won the rebounding battle 32-30, and forced CMU to turn the ball over 16 times resulting in 21 points off turnovers.
The win improves the Vikings to 6-11 overall and 1-4 in the HAAC, while CMU drops to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
Up next for the men's and women's basketball teams is a home double-header with MidAmerica Nazarene University. The women's game begins at 2:00 p.m. and the men's game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. at the Burns Athletic Complex. The MNU women's team is ranked No. 11 in the NAIA, while the MNU men's team is receiving votes.
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
40 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and the newest majors are nursing, graphic design, dance, and hospitality/tourism management. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831‐4000 or visit
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