MVC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BEATS STERLING AT HOME TUESDAY

 

MVC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BEATS STERLING AT HOME TUESDAY

 

Marshall, Mo. (December 17, 2013)- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team welcomed in Sterling (Kan.) College to the Burns Athletic Complex for a non-conference matchup Tuesday evening.  MVC led throughout, and eventually put Sterling away for an 87-75 victory.

 

The Vikings got out to a fast start against Sterling, opening the game up by scoring nine of the first 11 points.  MVC eventually grabbed an 11-2 lead in the game's first four minutes after Sophomore Guard Rayna Smith (St. Louis, Mo.) scored two of her nine points.  Eventually the Vikings built their lead to double-digits for the first time with just under 14-minutes left in the first half on a Smith three-point play that put MVC up 20-9.  Sterling was able to get back into the game by following up Rayna's three points with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes that cut MVC's lead to just 20-19.  MVC responded with a run of its own over the next seven minutes by scoring 18 of the next 23 points to extend a one point lead to a 14-point advantage at 38-24 when Senior Guard Regine Mecenario (Delano, Calif.) score hit a three point field goal with just under five minute remaining in the first half.  Both teams traded baskets through the last few minutes of the half, and the Vikings went into the break with a 46-35 lead.  MVC shot nearly 53-percent from the floor and created 12 Sterling turnovers in the first half.

 

The second half began with both teams trading baskets once again, but MVC was able to maintain at least an eight point advantage through the first four minutes of the half.  Eventually, MVC was able to extend its lead to 14 points at 61-47 with just under 12-minutes remaining in the game after a Senior Forward Gabby Lovelace (Pleasant Hill, Mo.) field goal.  MVC's largest lead of the game came a little over two minutes later after Senior Forward Gabi Morales (Bakersfield, Calif.) hit a free throw to give MVC a 68-52 lead.  Sterling tried to fight back, cutting MVC's lead to just seven points at 70-63 with five minutes to play in the game, but that's as close as they would get to making a comeback.  A Mecenario three point field goal with just over three minutes remaining to give MVC a 78-66 lead ended hopes for Sterling, and the Vikings pulled away for a 87-75 win.

 

Leading the way for MVC was Mecenario who came off the bench to score 17 points on six of eight shooting, which included five of seven shooting from three-point range.  Morales finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Lovelace had 14 points and seven rebounds.  Junior Guard TaLaya Earls (Indianapolis, Ind.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with six assists.

 

MVC improves to 8-4 with the win, and has now won six-straight non-conference games.  Sterling falls to 5-7 with the loss.

 

The women's team has two weeks off until its next game, which will be a home doubleheader with the men's team hosting Friends University at the Burns Athletic Complex Dec. 31.  Women's game time is 2:00 p.m. and the men's game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start.

 

 

 

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, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are ag-business, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.