Women's Basketball Leads Early, Falls at Benedictine

Atchison, Kan., (Jan. 31, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Atchison, Kan., for a Wednesday evening Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Benedictine (Kan.).  The women's team held an early led, but fell by a final score of 70-56.

Missouri Valley went in front early in the women's game, as a field goal from both Junior Noa Fernandez (Castrandeda, Spain) and Sophomore Mackenzie Mann (Oak Grove, Mo.) made it a 5-2 score with just over three minutes played in the contest.  Benedictine briefly moved ahead on a basket, but Junior Maddie Ferrara (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and Sophomore Sophie Sullvan (Lombard, Ill.) each hit a three-pointer to put the team on top.  Sullivan added another field goal to finish out the 8-0 run for MVC set the lead at 13-6 with less than three minutes to play in the quarter.  The Ravens were held scoreless through more than two minutes of play, but eventually cut its deficit to 13-11 as the first quarter came to an end.

Scoring in the second quarter started with one field goal each from Fernandez and Junior Gia Moore (Independence, Mo.) to push the advantage out to 17-11 with two minutes off the clock.  Ferandez scored the next four points for MVC, and the team held a 21-13 lead just past the six-minute mark.  Benedictine closed the gap to 21-18, with a pair of Sullivan free throws following to make it 23-18 with less than four minutes remaining in the half.  An 8-1 run followed, in favor of BC, to move the Ranves on top, 26-24 near the two-minute mark.  Moore responded with a three-point play to move the Vikings ahead, 27-26, but Benedictine closed the half with one more basket, and put Missouri Valley into a 29-27 deficit at halftime.

Junior Rajone Callahan (Wichita, Kan.) sank a three-point shot at the start of the third quarter to push MVC in front, 30-29, while Mann tacked on a pair of free throws to make it a 32-29 score with nearly two minutes played.  Sullivan added another three-pointer, to keep the team on top, 35-33.  The Ravens came back with a 7-0 run to claim a 40-35 lead past the midway point of the quarter.  Fernadez and Moore each added one basket over the next stretch to shrink the gap down to 43-42 near the two minute mark.  Benedictine answered with six-straight points to extend the advantage.  Moore added a pair of free throws in the closing moments of the quarter, but MVC trailed, 49-44.

The Ravens scored early in the fourth quarter to push their lead out to double-digits for the first time, 54-44, with one minute played.  Moore ended the Viking drought with a three-pointer, but BC continued to stay in front, and eventually hold a 59-49 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the game.  Senior Blanca Alcalde (Salamanca, Spain) sank a field goal, and Fernandez made one free throw to pull the team into a 59-52 deficit midway through the quarter.  However, that's as close as the team could get late in the game, as Benedictine maintained a double-digit gap through the remainder of the quarter.  The Vikings fell, 70-56.

Moore led with 18 points and four assists.  Fernandez totaled 12 points and six rebounds, while Sullivan added 12 points and five rebounds.  Missouri Valley forced 22 turnovers.

Missouri Valley drops to 9-12 on the season and 7-10 in the Heart.  Benedictine improves to 16-6 overall and 14-4 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams stay on the road for a Heart doubleheader in Oskaloosa, Iowa, against William Penn (Iowa), Saturday.  Women's game at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.  Both Missouri Valley teams earned wins in the first contests of the season, back on Dec. 2.  The men's team won 81-79, and the women's team won, 87-63.

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.