MVC basketball: Lady Vikings defeat Tabor in OT

A bucket by senior Jean Dooley with 27 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team a 62-59 non-conference home decision Friday over Tabor (Kan.).

The Lady Bluejays had pulled ahead 24 seconds earlier on a pair of free throws by freshman Vivian Olvera. The Lady Vikings found Dooley open and she came through, then junior Gita Grava came up with a steal and Dooley knocked down two from the charity stripe in the closing seconds.

Valley began the game with an 11-0 run, senior Chelsea Quiring draining a three-pointer in the opening minute and an inside shot on the next possession. Senior MaCall Budke also connected from outside during the surge.

Tabor answered with a 15-1 run, senior Andrea Robinson stroking a pair of bombs, to take a three-point lead midway through the first half. Neither team was able to get on a roll the rest of the period and the Lady 'Jays went into the break ahead by three points.

Tabor led by five points twice during the second half, the last time on two Robinson freebies with 4:20 remaining.

Quiring sank three from the line, but Olvera made two for a 56-52 lead with 1:20 to go. Quiring scored and Dooley came up with a steal to feed Grava for a game-tying bucket and foul on the fast break. Grava, though, couldn't make the go-ahead free throw and although Valley got the ball back, there wasn't time to set up a good shot.

Olvera led Tabor (1-0) with 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Quiring tallied 20 points, the first of the Lady Vikings to break that barrier this year, while Dooley had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Valley (2-2) will be at home Wednesday to face William Woods.