Women's Basketball Pulls Away in Home Win Over Park

Marshall, Mo. (Jan. 7, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams hosted Park (Mo.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday evening inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  The women's team pulled away in the second half for a 90-57 win.  The men's team overcame a double-digit deficit to win at the buzzer, 70-67.

After Park opened the women's game with an early basket, Missouri Valley answered with a run, as Sophomore Forward Lexi Fenstermacher (O'Fallon, Mo.) totaled five points and Senior Center Sara Ortiz (La Roda, Spain) scored four points to push the team in front, 9-2, with just over two minutes played.  The two teams traded points over the next stretch, as the Pirates cut their deficit down to 13-7 at the six-minute mark.  Junior Guard Jozelynn Bostick (Centralia, Mo.) answered with a three-pointer moments later, while Ortiz came down with an offensive rebound which led to a layup, and Freshman Guard Alice Lepetitgaland (Lyon, France) added a basket to give MVC a double-digit advantage, at 20-9, with less than two minutes remaining.  Senior Guard Sophie Sullivan (Lombard, Ill.) added a pair of free throws late in the quarter to cap scoring for the Vikings, and the team sat in front, 22-13.

The two teams traded points to begin play in the second quarter, as Fenstermacher scored three points, and Junior Guard Jessica Reeter (Chillicothe, Mo.) sank a three-point shot to make it a 28-19 lead with two minutes off the clock.  A Freshman Guard Madison Mills (Farmington, Mo.) three-pointer and Sophomore Guard Seilani Relford (Aurora, Colo.) layup stretched the advantage out to 33-21 midway through the quarter.  Missouri Valley maintained a double-digit advantage through the next stretch, helped by a pair of free throws from Reeter and a three-point shot by Bostick to make it a 38-25 score near the three-minute mark.  Park was held without a field goal through more than six minutes of play, as the Vikings added to their lead late.  Bostick sank another three-point attempt and Sullivan added one more jumper to help send MVC into halftime in front, 45-30.

Missouri Valley began the third quarter on a run, started by an Ortiz layup, who followed with a steal on the first Pirate possession.  Fenstermacher added two made free throws, while three-point baskets from Mills and Reeter capped a 10-0 run to push the lead out to 55-30 with two minutes played.  Park chipped away at its deficit over the next three minutes, to trail, 60-40.  Reeter responded midway through the quarter with a three-pointer, while Ortiz added an offensive rebound and layup to push the advantage out to 65-42 with four minute to play in the third.  The Pirates were held scoreless through a nearly four-minute stretch late in the quarter, while Reeter and Mills added another three-point field goal apiece, and Freshman Forward Tara Rivas (San Salvador, El Salavdor) sank two free throws to increase the lead out to 73-42 in the final minute.  Park added the final basket, but the Vikings held a 73-44 lead going in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings used early baskets from Freshman Forward Lilyan Landis (Scott City, Mo.), Senior Guard Carla Moros (Sabadell, Spain) and Lepetitgaland to start the final quarter to hold an 80-47 advantage with just over one minute played.  Missouri Valley held off Park late, and scored the next eight points from the free throw line.  Junior Guard Manuela Perez De Castro (Madrid, Spain) had the final field goal for MVC with one minute remaining, and the Vikings finished out a 90-57 win.

Fenstermacher led with 18 points to go with nine rebounds.  Reeter recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 11 assists.  Ortiz added her first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and tying a season-high with 13 rebounds.  Bostick came off the bench to score 11 points.  Missouri Valley shot 50-percent from the floor, and limited Park to 28-percent shooting.  The Vikings also held a 60-30 advantage in rebounds.

Missouri Valley improves to 9-6 overall and 6-2 in the Heart.  Park falls to 7-7 on the season and 2-5 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking basketball teams will host Grand View (Iowa) in a Heart doubleheader, Saturday afternoon inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  Women's game starts at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

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.