VALLEY CITY, ND  (Ryan Cunningham, NewsDakota.com)  It was another difficult road trip for Viking basketball in Montana this past weekend.

Rocky Mountain swept the Vikings 63-37 in women’s play and 81-65 in men’s play Friday in Billings, then Carroll College turned away a pair of upset bids from the Vikings, 68-59 on the women’s side and 93-88 on the men’s side, Saturday in Helena.

The Viking women trailed the Battlin’ Bears by just one at halftime Friday, but managed just 13 second half points.  Ellie Braaten led the Vikings with 15, Abby Aslesen added 10.

Valley City State managed to outshoot Rocky Mountain Friday, a nice step for a Viking defense that had allowed nearly 50% shooting from it’s opponents.  However, 20 turnovers hampered the Viking effort in the loss.  Kaleb Larson led the Vikings with 19 points.  Jaelyn Johnson added 16 and J. R. Cison knocked in 14.

On Saturday, the Viking women led by four after one, trailed by two at the break, and could not overcome a tough shooting day in the nine-point loss.  Valley City State shot 39% from the field, and finished 8-22 from the three-point line.  Aslesen had a banner day with 20 points on 8-16 shooting, hit three of four three-point shots, and pulled in eight rebounds.

The Viking men outshot, and outrebounded the 15th-ranked Saints Saturday afternoon, and were nearly even in the turnover category.  But Carroll was 20-21 from the foul line, the difference in the game.

Cison led the Vikings with 31 points, Larson added 25, and Johnon tossed in 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Vikings come home to face Bismarck State College Friday.