DES MOINES, IOWA – In their third meeting of the season, Grand View Women's Basketball hosted Benedictine College for the Heart of America Conference Semifinal. The thrilling contest saw the Vikings rally from a 15-point deficit at halftime, making a strong push in the third frame. However, Benedictine's hot first-half shooting and calm late-game execution ultimately led to a 80-67 victory. Anna Gossling led the Vikings' charge, scoring 28 points under pressure to keep Grand View in the game.
From the opening tip, both teams pushed the tempo, eager to capitalize on fast-break opportunities. The Vikings struck first as Ella Larsen converted a fast-break layup off a pass from Gossling, but Benedictine quickly responded with two baskets of their own. Gossling continued to apply pressure early, sinking two floaters to match the Ravens' scoring. Grand View landed three triples in the first quarter, with Cleao Murray, Claire Galbraith, and Gossling providing the boost. However, an eight-point Ravens run, and two Viking turnovers allowed Benedictine to take a slight lead, 22-19, by the end of the quarter.
The second quarter was marked by Benedictine's sharp shooting and dominance in the post, extending their lead to 15 points by halftime. A press from the Ravens disrupted the Vikings' offensive flow, forcing them into six turnovers. Gossling provided the spark once again with a three-pointer off a screen, and Reagan Mudderman capped the half with a buzzer-beating fast-break layup. At the break, Grand View trailed 45-30. Benedictine shot an impressive 66.7% (18-for-27) from the field and 50% (6-for-12) from beyond the arc, while the Vikings shot 40.7% (11-for-27) overall and just 26.7% (4-for-15) from three-point range. Gossling led Grand View with 12 points, including two three-pointers, while 17 of Benedictine's points came from their point guard.
After the break, both teams took a few minutes to regain their rhythm. Murray and Gossling stepped up for the Vikings, leading a 23-point third-quarter surge. Murray grabbed three steals, converting them into fast-break layups, including a three-point play. Gossling hit two three-pointers, including one at the quarter's end, and added a pull-up jumper to cut the deficit. Grand View held Benedictine to just 13 points in the quarter, finishing with 23 of their own to trim the Ravens' lead to 58-53.
The final frame began with momentum on the Vikings' side. Gossling sank a jumper, and Brianna Fields added a layup off a pass from Rengstorf. Fields took a crucial charge, and the Vikings tied the game at 62-62 after a crowd-pleasing three-pointer from Rengstorf and two free throws from Larsen. However, Benedictine responded with a 7-point run that sealed the game, leaving the Vikings with an 80-67 semifinal loss.
GAME NOTES
- Anna Gossling led all scorers with 28 points, shooting 50% (4-for-8) from three-point range, and recorded 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
- Cleao Murray contributed 14 points, 3 assists, and a season-high 4 steals in key moments.
- Ella Larsen added 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
- The game featured 4 ties and 7 lead changes.
- Grand View moves to 1-2 against Benedictine this season.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will await the announcement of the NAIA National Tournament at-large bids, which will be revealed on Thursday, March 6th, at 6:00 PM on the NAIA Network.
