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CITY (VCSUVikings.com)- The Vikings finished their regular season with a split against rival Jamestown Saturday. The women snapped The Jimmies 36 game NSAA winnings streak with a 75-70 overtime win. After falling behind early the men were unable to come back and fell 85-75. NSAA tournament play starts Wednesday for the women and Thursday for the men.
WBB: VCSU 75 University of Jamestown 70 OT
The Viking and Jimmie women added another classic to their storied basketball rivalry Saturday in Valley City. Alli Vandal scored a career high 25 points to lead the Vikings to an overtime upset victory of the No. 11-ranked University of Jamestown, 75-70.
VCSU’s victory snaps a 36-game conference win streak for the Jimmies dating back to Feb. 7, 2015. That loss also came in Valley City, 72-65 in overtime.
With the win, the Vikings improve to 22-7 overall and 13-3 in the North Star Athletic Association. VCSU has now won its last seven games to close out the regular season. VCSU will be the No. 3 seed for the NSAA Tournament and will host Presentation College in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday night.
With the loss, Jamestown drops to 22-5 overall and 15-1 in the North Star. It snaps a 12-game winning streak for the Jimmies. Jamestown is the top seed for the NSAA Tournament and will host Viterbo University on Wednesday night.
The Vikings controlled the game in the first quarter Saturday, leading 23-19 after 10 minutes of play. The second quarter was very back and forth and a late run propelled the Vikings to a 39-34 lead.
The Vikings opened up a 10-point lead in the third quarter, 47-37, which would by either team’s largest lead of the game. The Jimmies had an answer though, rallying late in the quarter to cut the lead to three.
The fourth quarter was back and forth before Jamestown’s Taylor Hammer scored with 32 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. Both team had chances to win in the final 30 seconds of regulation, but could not convert.
In the extra period Kaitlin Connor would connect on two free throws with two and a half minutes to play to give the Vikings the lead for good at 69-67. The stout Vikings defense would only allow three points to be scored by the Jimmies the remainder of the game.
Alli Vandal and Georgia Williams each had 25 points to lead the Vikings.Lexi Lennon was the third Viking in double figures with 10.
Taylor Hammer led the Jimmies with 18 points as one of four Jimmies in double figures. McKayla Orr scored 15 points; Alexis Watts scored 14 and Kyra Dewald added 12 in the loss.
The Viking women shot 50 percent from beyond the arc (4-8) and held the sharp shooting Jimmies to just 26 percent (6-23).
MBB: University of Jamestown 85 VCSU 75
The Valley City State men’s basketball team won’t have to wait long for a chance to avenge its latest loss. Just an hour after suffering an 85-75 loss to University of Jamestown in the regular season finale Saturday, the Vikings learned they will get another crack at the Jimmies during the first round of the NSAA Tournament.
Jamestown (17-13, 11-5 NSAA) earned a share of the NSAA Regular Season Championship after the victory Saturday in Valley City, but due to tiebreakers the Jimmies will be the No. 3 seed for the tournament. Bellevue and Dickinson State – which both also earned a share of the conference title – will be the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively.
Valley City State (16-14, 8-8 NSAA) will be the No. 6 seed. The Vikings and Jimmies will play in the quarterfinal round Thursday at 3 p.m. in Jamestown. The early start time is due to the Jamestown Civic Center booked that night with high school basketball games.
The Vikings and Jimmies split their two regular season meetings with the road team winning each game.
On Saturday, the Jimmies torched the nets from deep en route to the win in Valley City. The Jimmies started the game 10-for-17 from 3-point range and at one point held a 25-point lead in the second half. A late furious rally by the Vikings closed the gap to eight, but VCSU could get no closer the rest of the way. Valley City State played the game without leading scorer Jayden Fergusonwho averages 21 points per game.
Jamestown was 9-for-16 from 3-point range in the first half as the Jimmies built a 47-36 lead at the break. The Jimmies led 76-51 before the Vikings closed the gap down the stretch.
Logan Brown was 5-for-6 on 3’s and finished with 22 points to lead the Jimmies. Riley Henderson scored 18 points and Jake Hagler added 14.
Rashad Satahoo led the Viking offense with 23 points. Jason Ralph had 15 points and five assists, and Ellwood Ellenson added 11 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks. Austin Rambow and Austin Dunbar each had eight points.
VCSU shot 43 percent from the field (26-61), 43 percent on 3’s (9-21) and 88 percent at the free throw line (14-16).
Jamestown started the game 10-for-17 on 3’s before finished 11-for-25 (44 percent). The Jimmies shot 51 percent overall (32-63) and 71 percent at the line (10-14).
Up next: Jamestown host Valley City State in the first round of the NSAA Tournament, Thursday at 3 p.m.