February 1, 2025

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) use a fast first quarter start by shooting a sizzling 71.4 percent from the field for a 22-9 lead and never trailed for the rest of the game, ending No. 6 ranked Dakota State's (S.D.) 15-game winning streak Saturday afternoon at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.  The Vikings won by the score of 75-61.

The Trojans were handed their first North Star conference setback of the season.  DSU is currently 17-4 and 9-1 record in the league.  VCSU improved to 12-10 overall record and 4-6 record in the North Star contests.

Both teams will play their third meeting the next two Saturdays (Feb. 15) at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State wraps up their three-game North Star trip Friday evening as they return to Bellevue, Neb.  The third-round robin in the North Star conference play begins as DSU plays their traveling partner at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

Valley City State (N.D.) 75, (6) Dakota State (S.D.) 61 – FINAL

Valley City State kept Dakota State scoreless for the first three-plus minutes of the game, opening a 5-0 lead after a 3-pointer by Ashlyn Diemert with nine minutes and two seconds on the clock.

Lilli Mackley ended DSU's scoring drought with a basket inside the paint (DSU trailed 5-2) with 6:36 to go in the first period.

VCSU erupted for a 13-1 outburst to balloon their lead to 18-3 with 3:14 to go in the first after JayCee Richter's basket.

The Vikings closed the first quarter with a basket from Diemert for a 22-9 lead.  Valley City State shot 10-of-14 from the field in the first ten minutes of the game and held Dakota State to 4-of-14 field goals (28.6 percent).

VCSU continued their scoring surge to kick off the second quarter, making four straight baskets as part of their 9-2 scoring run.  A 3-pointer by Olivia Backus gave the Vikings the biggest lead at 31-11 and forced the Trojans to call a timeout with 8:16 left in the second.

Dakota State answered with a 16-5 scoring run to trim their deficit into a single digit.  A 3-pointer from Mackley (assisted by Bria Wasmund) cut the Vikings' lead to 36-27 with less than three minutes to go before halftime.

Valley City State then scored eight straight points to expand their lead to 44-27 with less than ten seconds to go in the second. 

Angela Slattery drained a 3-pointer before the time expired as Dakota State trailed 44-30 by halftime.

VCSU outscored DSU 22-21 in the second period.  The Trojans shot 9-of-18 from the field (50 percent) compared to the Vikings 8-of-11 field goals (72.7 percent).

Valley City State was 18-of-25 from the field in the first half (72 percent), while the Trojans were 13-of-32 field goals (40.6 percent).

Wasmund began the second half with a 3-pointer followed by a basket to open DSU's 5-0 scoring run, trailing in single digit at 44-35 with less than nine minutes to go in the third quarter.

VCSU then answered with a 14-4 run to widen their lead to 58-39 after a basket by Abby Aslesen with 5:30 left in the third period.

Valley City State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the third quarter, leading 62-49 after three quarters.  DSU outscored VCSU 19-18 in the third.

Dakota State was unable to get no closer than eight points at 69-61 after a 3-pointer from Wasmund with 2:16 remaining.  Valley City State secured the victory after maintaining their double-digit lead.  VCSU outscored DSU 13-12 in the final quarter.

Slattery led the Trojans with 13 points.  She had three assists.  Wasmund and Tabor Teel each added 12 points.  Teel grabbed eight rebounds and registered a block.  Mackley had ten points and nine rebounds.  Cierra Watkins and Kenzi Simmons each scored five points.  Simmons stole the ball three times.

Diemert paced the Vikings with 28 points on her 9-of-12 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws.  She dished out four assists.  Aslesen added 14 points and five rebounds.  Richter had 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals.  Ellie Braaten had seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists.  Backus had seven points.

Dakota State shot 35.4 percent overall from the field (23-of-65 field goals) and 10-of-41 3-pointers.  Valley City State shot 59.2 percent (29-of-49 field goals) and 7-of-12 3-pointers.

VCSU hit 10-of-17 free throws to DSU 5-of-10 free throws.

The Vikings outrebounded the Trojans 35-32.