MVC basketball: Lady Vikings get first win

PARKVILLE -- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team didn't make many shots Tuesday, but blocked one at the end for a 46-43 non-conference win at Park.

The Lady Vikings held the home team scoreless over the final 2:19, adding to their one-point lead with a pair of free throws from freshman Sami Jackson with eight seconds remaining and holding on when junior Gita Grava stuffed senior Traci Oden's potential game-tying three-pointer as the final horn sounded.

Neither team was able to take control of the game, both committing over 30 turnovers. The Lady Pirates jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but were unable to extend it.

Valley trailed until going on a brief six-point run on a pair of buckets by junior Leesa Barnes and a fast break by senior Jean Dooley off junior Rachel Harrison's steal tied the contest with 9:36 left in the first half.

Barnes made the Lady Vikings' last three baskets of the half to take a 25-19 advantage into the break.

Valley coughed up the ball on its first two possessions of the second half, with the Lady Pirates scoring after both, but Barnes hit two free throws and Jackson penetrated for a deuce to regain the six-point lead.

The margin got as high as eight points, when freshman Deanna Sieckman made a short jumper with 15:18 to go in the game, but the Lady Vikings only scored one point over the next five minutes.

Unfortunately for Park, it could not gain much ground during that stretch, but then senior Stefany Jones and junior Hilary Walker got loose inside for back-to-back goals. A lay-up by sophomore Dominique Hayes knotted the score at 42-all with 4:27 remaining.

Jackson put Valley in front on a drive to the hoop with 2:33 to go, Hayes sank one of two from the charity stripe 14 seconds later, and the clubs exchanged turnovers and missed shots for the next two minutes before Jackson provided a little cushion from the line.

Jones had 10 points and sophomore Shayla Seim grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Lady Pirates (0-3).

The Lady Vikings (1-2) were topped by Barnes' 14 points and nine boards, 10 points from Jackson and Grava's nine rebounds, five steals and four blocked shots.

Valley will be at home Friday for a non-conference tilt against Tabor (Kan.).