DES MOINES, IOWA- The Vikings hit the road for their first conference road test. Grand View faced off with their Iowa foe down south at Graceland University. The Vikings outworked the Yellowjackets for forty minutes to cruise to a well-earned victory, 81-65.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Vikings got a quick start with a three-point basket from
Ella Larsen, assisted by
Lauren Conrey. GVU held an early seven-point lead after
Ellie Rengstorf capitalized on a Yellowjacket turnover with her fastbreak lay-in.
Anna Gossling would get a look at two three-pointers to close the first quarter; Gossling would split the pair to send the Vikings into the second quarter.
Grand View would claim their largest lead in the second quarter after Larsen buried two free throws, pushing the advantage to 14 points. A cold stretch from Grand View's offense would allow the Jackets to climb back into the contest, cutting their deficit to seven points at the buzzer. After twenty minutes, GVU headed to the locker room with a 38-31 lead.
Rengstorf would get hot from three to open the Viking's second half, hitting one in their first offensive possession, giving GV a double-digit comfort lead. Just under halfway through the second quarter,
Cleao Murray hit another Grand View three to lead by 13. The Vikings would continue to shoot it from three, grabbing another beyond the arc from
Katie Fogarty with just a minute in the second half; the Vikings led 60-48 as the third quarter timed out.
Both teams struggled to find points in the fourth quarter. Fogarty would score a minute into the fourth quarter to keep GVU's double-digit lead. After a layup,
Rachel Leerar would end a poor offensive stretch for the Vikings; Grand View held their lead above ten with just four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Vikings closed the game with a 6-0 run, giving them another tally in the win column and conference win column, 81-65.
GAME NOTES
- Ella Larsen posted her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
- The Vikings had double the rebounds of the Jackets, 41-28.
- Vikings' controlled the paint as they out scored the Jackets in the lane, 36-16.
