MVC basketball: Lady Vikings stop eight-game skid

Whether it was a wholesale change in the starting the line-up or the presence of an opponent that is winless in Heart of America Conference play, the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team ended its eight-game slump Thursday.

None of the Lady Vikings who started the 80-48 rout over visiting Culver-Stockton were on the floor when the season tipped off, but they got their team an early lead -- which only grew from the midway point of the first half.

Junior ShaTeah West had four points, two rebounds and a steal to set up a bucket for freshman Cassandra Copeland as Valley took an 8-5 lead. Freshman Sami Jackson hit three shots during a 10-0 run which gave the Lady Vikings a nine-point advantage seven minutes into the game.

After sophomore Rachel Larson sank two free throws to reduce the Lady Wildcats' deficit to six points, Valley went on a 12-0 spree which began with junior Chelsea Quiring's three-pointer. Quiring made two free throws, freshman Lindsi Jackson converted a put-back and Copeland struck from outside during the stretch.

Bombs by freshman Nicole Sullivan and Copeland pushed the margin to 24 points with three minutes remaining in the half, which ended with Valley in front, 39-20.

It got no better after the break for Culver, which scored the first three points of the second half before watching the Lady Vikings reel off 10 in a row -- five by Copeland -- to stretch their lead to 49-23. The gap eventually reached 34 points late in the period.

Freshman Lisa Plattner's 14 points was high for the Lady Wildcats (3-18, 0-13 HAAC), which shot 27.3 percent from the field for their 10th consecutive loss.

Valley had four players in double figures, with Lindsi Jackson's 16 points and eight rebounds leading the charge. The Lady Vikings (7-16, 4-9) enjoyed 48.3-percent field-goal shooting, their most efficient performance since making 52 percent the last time they played Culver.

Valley will look for a second HAAC series sweep Thursday when it travels to Lindenwood.