MARION, INDIANA – Grand View closed their season with a hard-fought loss to top-seeded Indiana Wesleyan in the second round of the 44th Annual NAIA National Tournament. A tough second quarter left the Vikings trailing at halftime, but they surged in the third quarter, shooting 83.3% from beyond the arc to outscore the Wildcats 21-13. Despite continued effort in the fourth, Indiana Wesleyan capitalized on key opportunities to close out the game with the 71-60 victory.

The game opened with a deliberate first possession, leading to an Ella Larsen three-pointer off an assist from Eva Solseth. Indiana Wesleyan responded with a trio of layups, but Solseth kept Grand View in rhythm, knocking down a three before grabbing a steal that set up her own pair of free throws. The Wildcats found their stride from beyond the arc to take the lead, but Anna Gossling answered with two layups to keep the Vikings within striking distance. A late jumper from Larsen and a series of free throws by Indiana Wesleyan closed the first quarter with Grand View trailing 17-14.

Indiana Wesleyan dictated the pace in the second quarter, capitalizing on Grand View turnovers and missed shots to go on a 9-1 run. Cleao Murray worked to add four points, but the Wildcats continued to control the paint. Claire Galbraith broke through with a tough layup for a brief spark until Indiana Wesleyan's on-ball pressure and defensive intensity forced another 9-1 run to close the half. At the break, Grand View trailed 34-21, shooting just 26.9% (7-26) from the field and 14.3% (2-13) from three. Larsen, Murray, and Solseth each had five points, while Gossling led with three rebounds.

The Vikings came out of the locker room with renewed energy, igniting a furious comeback in the third quarter. A pair of three-pointers from Gossling and Larsen cut the deficit to 11 before Murray drilled a corner three off a Larsen assist. Indiana Wesleyan continued to dominate inside, but Grand View was on fire from deep, with Ellie Rengstorf knocking down a corner three, and back-to-back layups from Rengstorf and Solseth forcing a Wildcat timeout. Grand View's defensive pressure held Indiana Wesleyan to just one field goal late in the quarter, while Murray and Gossling kept the offensive rhythm alive. Shooting a blistering 83.3% from three and 66.7% from the field, the Vikings clawed back to within five, trailing 47-42 entering the final period.

Indiana Wesleyan struck first in the fourth, converting on second-chance opportunities and an and-one layup. A Rengstorf layup and Gossling floater kept Grand View within 10, but a critical 7-0 Wildcat run shifted the momentum for good. Despite three-pointers from Rengstorf, Gossling, and Murray, the Vikings couldn't overcome the late deficit, falling 71-60.

Grand View's season ends with a strong showing on the national stage, highlighted by a resilient fight against one of the country's top teams. Their 24-8 (20-4 conference) finish marks a successful year filled with individual standouts and team milestones.

Game Notes

• Cleao Murray led with 17 points, five steals, and four rebounds.
• Anna Gossling chipped in 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
• Ella Larsen dished out seven assists, adding 10 points and four rebounds.
• Ellie Rengstorf contributed 10 points, shooting 2-for-2 from three.
• Grand View shot 57.1% (8-for-14) from three and 50% (14-for-28) from the field in the second half. 
• The Vikings will graduate vital pieces of the program this spring, an additional thank you to our dedicated seniors: Katie Fogarty, Ella Larsen, Cleao Murray, and Ellie Rengstorf.