DES MOINES, IOWA – The Grand View Vikings erased an early deficit with an assertive second-quarter performance, securing a 68-50 victory over the Baker Wildcats. After trailing early in the contest, the Vikings ramped up their defense and continued to battle on the glass, holding Baker to just five points in the second quarter and using that momentum to build a comfortable lead by halftime. Despite a late push from Baker, Grand View's defense and efficient scoring in the paint allowed them to maintain control and close out the win with a strong finish.
Anna Gossling, who recently surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career, led the charge with 22 points.
The Vikings' early presence on the offensive boards, collecting nine rebounds in the first quarter, wasn't enough to spark an early lead. It wasn't until
Anna Gossling found a clear path to the basket that the Vikings were able to get on the scoreboard. Baker knocked down a long two and scored a layup to pull ahead, but
Ella Larsen responded with a layup of her own to tie the game. Grand View struggled from beyond the arc, missing all 11 of their three-point attempts in the quarter, and the Wildcats capitalized by stringing together five more points to take the lead. Despite forcing two consecutive 30-second shot-clock violations on Baker and a couple of tough layups from Gossling, the Vikings trailed 8-11 at the end of the first quarter.
A strong start to the second quarter came from
Ellie Rengstorf, who hit Grand View's first three-pointer of the game, assisted by
Eva Solseth. Paired with a fast break through traffic by Larsen, the energy in Sisam Arena ignited as fans could feel the Vikings' determination to go on a scoring run. Larsen was a gritty force in the quarter, contributing with an electrifying block, two layups through the defense, and on-ball pressure that helped force the Wildcats into their third 30-second shot-clock violation of the half. With just under four minutes remaining in the period, Grand View had taken the lead and were ahead by two points. A final push saw
Abigail Jones and Gossling each hit a three-pointer, while
Cleao Murray and
Reagan Mudderman each added a steal and layup. Baker committed four turnovers in the last three minutes, all of which were converted into points by the Vikings. Grand View's defense took control in the quarter, limiting the Wildcats to just five points while scoring 20 themselves. At the break, the Vikings had surged to a 28-16 lead, powered by strong defense and rebounding, where they out-rebounded Baker 25-13 (12-1 on the offensive glass). Gossling led the team with 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Larsen controlled the boards with 11 rebounds and 8 points.
The Vikings struck first in the third quarter with an immediate layup from Larsen, followed shortly by a momentum-shifting block from Murray. Contributions at the rim came from Gossling, Murray, and Solseth, but Baker managed to answer most of Grand View's offensive pushes. The Vikings found success from deep, with Larsen, Mudderman, and Gossling each hitting a three-pointer to maintain a slight edge in scoring. As the quarter wound down, Gossling knocked down a final jumper to push the lead to 52-33, and Mudderman added a block on a buzzer-beating three-point attempt by Baker.
Entering the final ten minutes, Gossling tacked on another jumper to start the quarter, but Baker applied some late-game pressure, matching the Vikings' scoring efforts. Layups proved to be the most effective offensive strategy for Grand View in the fourth, with help from Murray, Rengstorf, and Mudderman. Gossling closed out the game with a final layup off the glass to seal the 68-50 win. Despite shooting just 21.4% from three-point range—a notably low mark for the Vikings—the victory showcased the importance of Grand View's defense, as they relied on limiting shot attempts and forcing Wildcat turnovers. Baker was held to just 49 shot attempts and committed 19 turnovers, while Grand View fired off 73 shots and only turned the ball over 10 times. The Vikings also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 42-27 (17-3 on the offensive glass), which provided ample opportunities for offensive success at the rim and through mid-range scoring.
GAME NOTES
- Anna Gossling led with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
- Ella Larsen supplied a double-double with 17 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists.
- Cleao Murray added 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
- Reagan Mudderman dished out a team-high 4 assists, 3 steals, and added 8 points.
1,000 CAREER POINTS: ANNA GOSSLING
Junior
Anna Gossling reached 1,000 career points earlier this season and was recognized during today's game, becoming one of the select few in Grand View history to achieve this impressive milestone. Her steady performance and key contributions have been vital to the program's success, and this achievement highlights her continued growth and impact on the court.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will be back in action on their home floor Monday, February 3rd, when they host Benedictine College at 6:00 p.m., following the men's game.
