DES MOINES, IOWA- The Vikings took care of business as the Mount Mercy Mustangs came to town to open up conference play on Wednesday night. The 73-59 win boost the Vikings to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. Thanks to a wide range of scoring options from 7 different Vikings. 


HOW IT HAPPENED: 
The Vikings offense come out firing in the first quarter as they quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 5 points coming from Ella Larsen in the first 90 seconds of play. She would total 7 more points through the quarter to lead the Vikings in the early going. Lauren Conrey would come alive as well as she banged in a 3 pointer with 2 minutes left in the quarter followed up with a layup the following possession to stretch the viking lead to 11. The Vikings would continue to stretch out the lead as Cleao Murray would hit a jumper with 22 seconds left in the first quarter to take a 15 point lead, 23-8. 

The second quarter was a defensive clinic as the Vikings did not allow a basket until the midway point of the quarter. This was spark a short Mustang run that would see them cut the lead down to 13 before Anna Gossling would hit a jump shot to take back the momentum. The Vikings would go a perfect 3-3 from the field in the final two minutes with a pair of threes from Conrey and another Gossling layup to extend the lead to 20, 40-20, as the teams headed for the locker rooms. 

The Mustangs began chipping away at the lead as the teams returned from the break but a short scoring burst from Murray was able to stop the mustang run as she hit a 3 pointer and followed it up by a layup assisted by Larsen. The Mustangs would start to get closer a few minutes later as they cut the lead to 15 with just over 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter before the Vikings would take a timeout to try and reset. Both teams would trade baskets before the final seconds of the quarter ticked down and Murray was followed on a cut to the rim and banged home 2 free throws with 4 seconds left. 

In the 4th quarter the Mustangs would again come out strong helping cut the lead down to 12 before Ellie Rengstorf would knock down a pair of free throws and a steal leading to a 4 point Viking swing pushing the lead back to 16. Teams would continue to trade baskets down the stretch as the game got chippy leading to the Vikings bench picking up a technical foul with under 6 minutes to play. It would not matter though as Murray would hit another 3 pointer shortly after the give the Vikings back control of the game. As the game wound down the Vikings would take care of the ball limiting turnovers and connecting on crucial free throws to help them seperate themselves from the Mustangs one last time and pick up a decisive 73-59 win in their Heart Conference opener.

GAME NOTES

• The Vikings collected 8 steals and generated 16 points of turnovers 
• Connected on 16-20 free throws
• Dished out 13 Assist
• 4 Vikings were in double figures

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Vikings will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they take on the Baker Wildcats. Tip off is scheduled for 2PM in Sisam Arena.