By Daijah White / Sports Editor

The Missouri Valley College women’s basketball team suffered a tough 74-73 overtime loss to Mount Mercy in the Heart of America Athletic conference Postseason Quarterfinals last Tuesday. 

The No. 4 seed Vikings and the No. 5 seed Mustangs battled it out at the very last second. The Mustangs were first to get on the board in this game. They then took a 6-2 lead in the first two minutes. Valley quickly responded to this with an 8-0 run. Mount Mercy stopped this run with a 3 point shot but D’ajha Horton responded with a 3-pointer for the Vikings. The Vikings came out on top in the first quarter 21-19. 

Mount Mercy trailed in the second quarter until they finally caught up and tied the score up 29-29 with 3 minutes left. Valley quickly took the lead again with a pair free throws. The teams went back and forth in the last minute but the Vikings took the lead to put them up 37-34 at half. The teams exchanged leads in the third quarter which ended tied up 49-49.

Valley had the lead the whole fourth quarter until Mount Mercy tied it up with a 3-point buzzer beater sending the game into overtime. In overtime the Vikings scored the first 2 points. A pair of fouls made by Vikings players led Mount Mercy to score their next four points in free throws. Valley caught up but it was not enough to take the win. The Vikings ended with 73 and Mount Mercy with 74, sending the Mustangs to the semifinals.

Valley’s Women’s Basketball is now waiting for the chance at an at-large selection that would give them a shot at the National NAIA Tournament. The selection show takes place on March 6.