VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Head coach Vanessa Keeler-Johnson and the Viking women’s basketball team took the first step Wednesday night of what they hope will be a long postseason run.
The No. 2-seeded Vikings had five players score in double figures en route to a 93-61 victory over Viterbo University in the North Star Athletic Association women’s basketball quarterfinals.
The Vikings advance to the semifinals of the NSAA Tournament on Saturday in Jamestown and will take on No. 3 seed Bellevue University at 6 p.m. Both semifinals on Saturday and the championship on Sunday will be played at regular season champion University of Jamestown, which advanced with a 100-39 victory Wednesday against Waldorf. Bellevue defeated Presentation College, 92-60, and No. 4 Mayville State downed No. 5 Dakota State University, 83-68. Jamestown and Mayville play the first semifinal at 4 p.m., with the Vikings to follow at 6 p.m.
After moving up two spots to No. 16 in this week’s NAIA Top 25 Poll, the Vikings (23-4, 13-3 NSAA) breezed to their 23rd win of the season Wednesday and are now within one win of tying the program record of 24 wins set last year and in 2012-13.
Viterbo ends it season with a 6-23 overall record.
Valley City State dominated inside early and often Wednesday night. Starting center Mackenzie Huber scored six of VCSU’s first 10 points, and VCSU’s three post players – Huber, Alli Vandal and Kaitlin Connor – combined to score 45 points and shoot 78 percent. All three reached double figures, including a game-high 18 points by Vandal. Connor had 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench, and Huber finished with 12 points. Point guard Kate Williams finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Lexi Lennon added 10 points and five assists.
After playing about even for the first five minutes, the Vikings took control with a 14-6 run that opened up a 24-15 lead after the first quarter. The Vikings held a 47-34 advantage at halftime, and then put the game out of reach by outscoring the V-Hawks 23-13 in the third period. VCSU led by as many as 34 points in the fourth quarter.
Alyssa Nilssen led the V-Hawks with 14 points and six rebounds. Kassi Hofschild added 11 points and Madison Doerr scored 10.
Valley City State shot 60 percent from the field (39-65), 42 percent from 3-point range (5-12) and 83 percent at the line (10-12). Viterbo finished at 35 percent overall (20-58), 26 percent on 3’s (5-19) and 70 percent at the line (16-23).
The Vikings held a 38-22 rebounding advantage and dished out 17 assists. VCSU had 14 turnovers while Viterbo turned it over 13 times.
Up next: Valley City State plays Bellevue University in the NSAA semifinals Saturday in Jamestown. Start time is set for 6 p.m.