Women's Basketball Goes to Overtime, Gets Win Over Culver-Stockton

Canton, Mo., (Feb. 3, 2025)-The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams traveled to Canton, Mo., for a Monday evening Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).  The Viking women's team went to overtime and came away with a 60-57 win.  The men's team came away with a 65-56 victory.

The women's game opened with both teams struggling to create field goals.  The first basket for the game, and only made shot in the first quarter for Missouri Valley came with nearly seven minutes played in the contest, on a jumper from Senior Gia Moore (Independence, Mo.).  Senior Ylenia Exposito (Tenerife, Canary Islands) added the next made shot attempt just over one minute into the second quarter, then added another basket with three minutes remaining in the half.  The Vikings held Culver-Stockton to a low point total in the first half as well, and went into halftime trailing by a 15-12 score.

Play in the third quarter began with a quick layup from Sophomore Ricarda Schott (Krefeld, Germany), followed by three made baskets from Moore through the seven-minute mark to push MVC on top, 20-19.  After the Wildcats briefly went back in front, three-pointers from both Moore and Exposito gave the Vikings a 26-25 lead with just over five minutes to play in the quarter.  Culver-Stockton tied the teams again one minute later, at 28-28.  Missouri Valley responded with a 7-0 run over the next minute of play, as Schott came through with five points, and Sophomore Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) capped off the stretch with a layup to make it a 35-28 score.  The Wildcats gradually worked down their deficit over the next two minutes, and trailed, 39-38, in the final minute of the third.  Schott ended the quarter with a layup, and MVC went into the fourth quarter on top, 41-38.

The Vikings held Culver-Stockton scoreless through the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, and used a three-pointer from Schott and another layup by Bostick to build up a 46-38 advantage.  The Wildcats responded, and put together an 11-2 run over a five-minute stretch of play to move ahead, 49-48.  Senior Rajone Callahan (Wichita, Kan.) ended the drought for MVC with a three-pointer near the two-minute mark to reclaim the lead, 51-49.  After CSC tied the contest at 51-51, Expostio put the Vikings back on top, 53-51, in the final minute of regulation.  Culver-Stockton came back to tie the game, and Missouri Valley had the final shot of the fourth quarter.  The attempt from Moore was off the mark, and the contest went into overtime, tied at 53-53.

Overtime started with the Wildcats taking a lead, at 57-55, and staying on top until under one minute remaining in the period.  Freshman D'Ajha Horton (Aurora, Colo.) came down with an offensive rebound, and put back the shot attempt to give Missouri Valley a 58-57 advantage with just over 30-seconds left on the clock.  The ensuing possession for CSC ended on a missed three-pointer, and Moore was fouled in the final seconds.  Moore made a pair of free throws to extend the lead, and Culver-Stockton was unable to tie the game on its final shot.  Missouri Valley earned a 60-57 win, and a second-straight overtime victory.

Moore led with 18 points, and added seven rebounds and four assists.  Schott totaled her second double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.  Exposito also had her fifth double-double of the season, totaling 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Missouri Valley finished with 63 total rebounds in the game, and held Culver-Stockton to 33-percent shooting from the floor.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 18-4 overall and 14-4 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton drops to 11-11 on the season and 8-10 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams travel to Olathe, Kan., for a doubleheader with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Wednesday evening.  The women's teams the No. 11 Pioneers at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 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.