January 26, 2018
VALLEY CITY, N.D. – No. 17-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) started the game fast Friday evening, jumping to a 23-9 lead after the first quarter and never looked back for an 88-70 North Star Athletic Association Women's Basketball conference victory at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.
Dakota State fell to 8-16 overall record and 5-6 NSAA conference record. Valley City State extended their winning streak to five games, raising their overall record to 17-3 and 9-2 NSAA record.
The Vikings shot 47.1 percent from the field (8-of-17 field goals) in the first ten minutes of the game, earning a 14-point lead over the Lady T's. VCSU held DSU to 16.7 field goal percentage (2-of-12 field goals) in the first quarter.
A 3-pointer by DSU's Jamie Tebben (assisted by Kennedy Wagner) trimmed VCSU's lead down into single digit at 27-18 with 4:39 left in the second period, forcing the Vikings to burn one of their timeouts.
VCSU closed the first-half with an 11-4 run in the final 4:27, grabbing a 16-point lead by halftime (38-22). Valley City State was 41.7 percent from the field in the first-half (15-of-36 field goals) compared to Dakota State 26.9 percent (7-of-26 field goals).
Trailing 50-33 in the third quarter, the Lady T's scored nine straight points to cut Vikings' lead to 50-42 with 3:16 on the clock (after a 3-point play by Shelby Vogel). VCSU answered by closing the third period with a 9-3 run for a 59-42 lead.
Valley City State maintained their double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter. Dakota State could get no closer than 11 points on three different occasions. VCSU outscored DSU 29-25 in a high-scoring affair in final ten minutes of the game.
Tebben scored 14 points off the bench for the Lady T's. Alexis Evans tallied 11 points off the bench. Cassie Jones, Wagner and Vogel each had eight points. Raven Patton and Lindsey Vogl each recorded seven points.
Evans led DSU with eight rebounds. Patton added six rebounds and registered two blocks.
Wagner produced a game-high four assists for Dakota State. Patton and Kelley Criddle each stole the ball twice.
Lexi Lennon poured in 26 points on her 11-of-20 field goal shooting for the Vikings. Mackenzie Huber added 21 points. Kennedy Henningsgard had 14 points.
Hannah Schlecht pulled down nine rebounds for VCSU. Kaitlin Connor recorded three blocks. Lennon had two steals.
Valley City State shot 49.3 percent (35-of-71 field goals) overall from the field compared to Dakota State 37.9 percent (22-of-58 field goals). VCSU was 6-of-13 3-pointers, while DSU was 3-of-14 from the 3-point line.
The Lady T's converted 23-of-29 free-throws (79.3 percent). The Vikings were 12-of-16 free-throws (75 percent).
VCSU had a slim rebounding edge over DSU 34-32. The Lady T's bench outscored Vikings' bench 36-12.
Dakota State looks to halt their losing skid as they conclude their North Star six-game road trip Saturday afternoon. The Lady T's visit Dickinson State (N.D.) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
