Cleao Murray and the Grand View women’s basketball team closed out the season on Saturday with a 71-60 loss to top-seeded Indiana Wesleyan in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament at Marion, Ind.
Murray, a former Ankeny Centennial star, scored 17 points in her final game for the Vikings. She also had four rebounds and five steals.
Grand View trailed at halftime, 34-21, but then outscored Indiana Wesleyan in the third quarter, 21-13, to close the gap to 47-42. The Vikings made 8-of-12 shots in the period, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
However, the Wildcats then pulled away in the fourth quarter for the double-digit win. Grand View ends the season with a 24-8 record.
The Vikings advanced to the second round with a 95-77 victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Friday. Murray went 12-of-19 from the field and finished with 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Grand View shot 71 percent from the field (22-of-31) in the first half while building a 55-39 advantage. Murray had 17 of her points in the first two quarters.
Murray has played only three seasons at the collegiate level, but is expected to graduate early in May and is planning to forgo her final year of eligibility.
