MARSHALL, Mo. – Trailing by 12 points late in the third quarter on Wednesday, the (RV) Raven Women's Basketball team used a 16-3 run to erase their deficit and take their first lead over Missouri Valley College midway through the fourth quarter.
In the end, the comeback effort fell short for Benedictine (11-8, 6-7 Heart) as Missouri Valley (8-10, 7-6 Heart) closed the game out with an 8-0 run to earn a 56-53 win over the Ravens.
After falling behind 8-0 in the first quarter, the Ravens used a 10-3 run to cut their deficit down to just one point before trailing by three points headed into the second quarter. Another slow start offensively in the second quarter for the Ravens allowed the Vikings to build their biggest lead of the game at 13 points. Benedictine gradually chipped away at that deficit pulling within four points on a 3-pointer from Grace Brzozowski before the Vikings took a 32-25 lead into halftime.
Missouri Valley limited Benedictine to just eight first-half field goals with just two 3-pointers. The Ravens converted 7 of 12 at the free throw line to keep within striking distance. Defensively, the Ravens held the Vikings to just three 3-pointers in the first half.
Missouri Valley remained in front throughout the third quarter. The Ravens cut their deficit to five points within the first minute of the quarter before the Vikings pulled ahead by as much as 12 points on two occasions before Benedictine began their comeback.
Back-to-back baskets from Ali Brzozowski got the Ravens comeback started late in the third quarter. Benedictine scored eight straight over a two minute stretch in the fourth quarter while holding the Vikings scoreless to start the fourth quarter to complete their comeback and pull ahead by three points on a basket by LaRanda Thomas midway through the quarter. A pair of free throws by Rachael Baumgartner stretched the Ravens lead to five before the Vikings closed out the game on an 8-0 run to hold off the Ravens.
Ali Brzozowski led the Ravens with 10 points while Natlie Smaron added nine points. The duo helped give the Ravens a 28-14 advantage off the bench. Grace Brzozowski added eight points and seven rebounds while Kayla Staley finished the game with a game-high 14 rebounds. The Ravens finished with 22 offensive rebounds which led to a 21-11 advantage off second-chance points.
Benedictine returns home for a Noon tip-off with Mount Mercy University on Saturday. Come early and enjoy the Raven Fan Fest from 10:30-11:50 a.m. on the second floor of the JP2 Student Center.
