Mustangs can't hold off Viking comeback

MARSHALL, Mo. - The Mount Mercy women's basketball team traveled to Missouri Valley for their first Heart of America Athletic Conference road contest. The two teams went down to the wire, with the Vikings topping the Mustangs 72-71 at Burns Athletic Center earlier tonight.  

Despite being out-rebounded 49-45 and in turn allowing 20 second chance points, Mount Mercy led for the majority of the game, including a 12-point advantage in the first quarter. Missouri Valley (5-3, 1-1 Heart) didn't level the game until 4:40 remaining in the first half. Sadie Struchen responded with a 5-0 run of her own, sinking a 3-pointer followed by a lay-up. The Vikings continued to fight back and took a 41-40 lead into the break. 

Mount Mercy (5-2, 1-1 Heart) held Missouri Valley to just 12 points in the third quarter and later built another double-digit lead, 64-53, after Deja Antoine's two free throws with eight minutes to go in regulation. The Vikings would outscore the Mustangs 19-7 the remainder of the game, flipping the script, and only allowing Mount Mercy to score 12 in the fourth.

The Mustangs struggled from the free throw stripe all night (53.8%) and couldn't close the game down the stretch, going 1-for-6 in the final two minutes. Mount Mercy still had an open shot at the buzzer, but couldn't connect, dropping their first conference game of the season. 

Annika Headington paced all players with 18 points and was one rebound and one assist away from a triple-double. Antoine and Sassy Coleman each finished with 12 points and Sammy Mia chipped in 10. Struchen was perfect from the field, adding seven off the bench. Giavanna Moore led Missouri Valley with 17, while Marina Mellado totaled 16 including the game-winning layup. 

Mount Mercy puts their undefeated home record on the line Saturday, Dec. 3rd as they host fourth-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) (7-0, 3-0 Heart) at 2:00 pm inside Hennessey Rec. Center.