DES MOINES, Iowa – Benedictine Women's Basketball scored 15 points off turnovers in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night as they mounted a comeback against Grand View University in the Heart Championship Game.
The Ravens outscored the No. 20-ranked Vikings 23-15 in the quarter, but the comeback short last-second 3-pointer rimmed out allowing Grand View to capture the win 65-62.
For Benedictine, the championship game was the program's first since 2017 and it marked the first appearance in the championship game for Grand View.
Aaliyah Raines scored the first basket of the game to give the Ravens an early 2-0 lead. The Vikings answered with a 7-0 run to take command of the game early pulling ahead by 8 headed to the second quarter.
Grand View did just enough to keep Benedictine at arm's length in the second quarter. Alleigh Kramer pulled the Ravens back within 5 points twice near the midway point of the quarter only to have the Vikings hold the Ravens scoreless over the final 2 minutes of the period to lead by 11 at the halftime break.
Despite matching Grand View with 16 points in the third quarter, Benedictine found themselves trailing by as much as 17 points in the third quarter before they took an 11-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer from Josie Weishaar set the comeback in motion for the Ravens from the start of the fourth quarter. The Ravens outscored the Vikings 9-2 to start the quarter to pull with 4 points with 7:20 remaining. A layup from Kramer with 4:19 remaining pulled the Ravens within 2 points, 56-54, but that was all the closer they would get as the Vikings scored 5 straight to pull back ahead by 7 and then held off another late push by the Ravens inside the final 90 seconds to earn the championship game win.
Four Ravens finished in double figures, led by Kramer with 18. Kyra Misuraca anchored the Ravens off the bench – which finished with a 21-5 advantage – scoring 13 points. Raines finished with 11 points while Kennedy Nicholson added 10. Misuraca scored 9 of her points in the fourth quarter while Kramer scored 14 of her total in the second half.
The Ravens turn their attention to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Selection Show on Thursday at 7 p.m. on the NAIA's official YouTube channel.
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