Cleao Murray has led the Grand View women’s basketball team to unprecedented heights.
The former Ankeny Centennial star scored 19 points to help the Vikings to a 65-62 victory over visiting Benedictine (Kan.) in the championship game of the Heart of America Conference Tournament on Tuesday at Sisam Arena. She went 8-of-19 from the field, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range.
It was the first Heart of America Conference Tournament title in program history for Grand View, which earned an automatic berth to the 2024 NAIA Championship. The Vikings finished 20-4 in league play and raised their overall record to 27-4.
Grand View was selected as the No. 5 seed in the Cramer Quadrant of the 64-team NAIA Championship. The Vikings will play No. 12 seed Indiana-South Bend (30-1) in the first round on Friday at Madison, S.D.
The winner would play either No. 4 seed and host Dakota State or No. 13 seed Science & Arts (Okla.) in the second round. This will be the Vikings’ 11th championship appearance.
Murray, a sophomore guard, has started all 31 games in her first season at Grand View. She leads the Vikings in scoring (19.0) and 3-point goals (76).
