Women's Basketball Earns Home Win Over Bethel

Marshall, Mo., (Dec. 16, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team hosted Bethel (Kan.) inside the Burns Athletic Complex Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game.  The Vikings women's team finished out a 77-70 win. 

The two teams traded points to open play, as a steal from Freshman Forward Bianca Sarbu (Bucharest, Romania) led to a three-pointer from Junior Guard Jessica Reeter (Chillicothe, Mo.) for the first points of the game.  Sarbu added a layup near the seven-minute mark to put MVC in front, 6-5, and the two teams played close through the next stretch of play.  Sophomore Forward Lexi Fenstermacher (O'Fallon, Mo.) sank a three-point shot, followed by a layup from Freshman Guard Alice Lepetitgaland (Lyon, France) to tie the teams at 10-10 with just over three minutes to play in the quarter.  After Bethel briefly took a 13-10 advantage, Junior Guard Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) made a three-pointer and Reeter added a layup to send MVC in front, 15-13, with less than one minute on the clock.  The Threshers tied the teams once again in the closing seconds of the quarter, and Reeter added two free throws to end scoring and give the Vikings a 17-15 advantage.

Reeter added to the MVC lead to start scoring in the second quarter, as a layup made it a 19-15 score with just over one minute played.  Fenstermacher came through with a layup moments later, but Bethel cut its deficit to 21-18 at the eight-minute mark.  Missouri Valley followed with a run, outscoring BC by a 9-2 margin over the next three minutes of play.  Lepetitgaland started the run with a three-pointer, while Reeter finished off a three-point play.  Freshman Forward Lilyan Landis (Scott City, Mo.) capped the run with another three-point play, and MVC held a double-digit advantage, 30-20, with six minutes remaining in the quarter.  The Vikings were held scoreless over the next four minutes of play, and Bethel cut its deficit down to 30-29.  Junior Center Sara Ortiz (La Roda, Spain) ended the drought with four made free throws, then Ortiz came up with a steal that led to a Reeter layup to stretch the lead out to 36-29 nearing one minute to play.  Sarbu added a pair of free throws to close scoring for Missouri Valley, and help the team stay ahead, 38-33 at halftime.   

The third quarter started with Bethel cutting back into their deficit through the opening minutes, outscoring MVC by an 11-3 margin to tie the game, and eventually taking a 44-41 lead.  Reeter made four free throws midway through the quarter, to reclaim the lead, 47-46.  The Vikings continued to stay ahead, as Lepetitgaland made a jump shot near the three-minute mark, and Reeter followed with a three point shot moments later to make it a 53-48 score.  The Threshers tied the game again with under a minute to play, but Reeter added a pair of free throws to put the MVC lead at 55-53 going into the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded baskets through a 59-59 score, which featured a layup each from Reeter and Fenstermacher with just over two minutes played.  Lepetitgaland had a three-pointer to put the Vikings in the lead, and Fenstermacher added a layup to make it 64-61 near the seven-minute mark.  The teams stayed close throughout the next several minutes, and with under three minutes to play both Reeter and Ortiz each had a layup to hold a 70-62 advantage.  Bethel closed the gap in the final minutes of the contest, but the final points of the game for MVC came on a pair of free throws from Reeter to finish out a 77-70 win.

Reeter led with a season-high 34 points, making 11 of 11 attempts from the free throw line, to go with three rebounds.  Fenstermacher followed with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Ortiz added eight points, ten rebounds and three blocks.  Lepetitgaland scored eight points off the bench.  Missouri Valley held a 50-32 advantage in rebounds, and forced BC into 12 turnovers.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 8-5 on the season while Bethel drops to 6-6 overall.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams travel to Olathe, Kan., for a Heart doubleheader with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Jan. 3.  Women's game starts at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m 

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About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.