Women's Basketball Knocks Off D2 Rockhurst on the Road

Kansas City, Mo., (Dec. 14, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team traveled to Kansas City, Mo., to play NCAA Division II Rockhurst (Mo.), Saturday afternoon.  The Vikings built up an early lead, and finished out a 66-56 victory.

Scoring in the game started moments after the opening tip-off on a three-pointer from Senior Ylenia Exposito (Tenerife, Canary Islands).  Missouri Valley was held scoreless over the next three minutes of play, and a pair of free throws from Sophomore Ricarda Schott (Krefeld, Germany) ended the drought to put the team back in front, 5-4.  Both Exposito and Schott added three-pointers midway through the quarter to extend the advantage to 11-6.  Rockhurst got to within a 13-9 score moments later, but MVC ended the quarter on a 7-0 run.  Junior Maleigha Landers (Fort Worth, Texas) sank a pair of free throws and Exposito added the last five points, including a shot at the buzzer to send Missouri Valley into the second quarter in front, 20-9.

Rockhurst chipped away at its deficit through the opening minute of play in the second quarter, trailing, 22-14. Senior Rajone Callahan (Wichita, Kan.) answered with a three-pointer, while another three-point basket from Junior Sophie Sullivan (Lombard, Ill.) kept MVC ahead by double-digits, 28-18, midway through the quarter.  After another basket from Exposito made it a 31-20 score near the three-minute mark, Rockhurst responded with a quick 6-0 run to cut the deficit down to 31-26.  Callahan ended the streak for RU with a basket, while Freshman Mackenzie Mills (Kansas City, Mo.) put in a layup to give MVC a 35-26 lead with just over one minute remaining.  Exposito added the final points of the half, as Missouri Valley went into halftime ahead, 37-29.

Play in the third quarter opened with an early basket from Schott, followed by Rockhurst working its deficit down to 39-32 with one minute off the clock.  Exposito and Junior Gabriela Modeva (Ohrid, Macedonia.) each put in field goals to give MVC a double-digit lead once again, and two baskets from Schott made it a 47-34 score with just over four minutes played.  Missouri Valley continued to increase its advantage on made layups from Landers and Exposito, as the score sat at 51-36 near the three-minute mark.  Sullivan made a three-pointer and Sophomore Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) had a late jumer to put the advantage at 56-45 going into the fourth quarter.

The Vikings held off Rockhurst through the fourth quarter, as the lead never got to less than eight points through the final quarter of play.  Modeva came through with six points in the quarter, and Missouri Valley earned a 66-56 win.

Exposito led with her second double-double of the season, finishing with a season-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds.  Exposito was 9 of 13 shooting in the game.  Schott scored 13 points and came down with seven rebounds.  Sullivan came off the bench to score eight points.  Missouri Valley shot 50-percent from the floor, and limited Rockhurst to 22-percent shooting.  The Vikings also held a 46-28 advantage in rebounds.

Missouri Valley is 8-3 on the season, while Rockhurst sits at 2-6.  This is the first win over an NCAA Division II team for the women's basketball program since defeating Maryville (Mo.), 81-79 back on Dec. 15, 2017.

Up next, the Viking women's basketball teams will travel to Dubuque, Iowa for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with Clarke (Iowa).  The women's game starts at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3:30 p.m.

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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.