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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–The Viking womens basketball team has a home date after their run-in with the Bison at NDSU Saturday.

The Vikings face another team from the Fargo-Moorhead area, the Concordia College Cobbers, at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse, after their 85-64 loss to the Bison Saturday, a loss that showed promise for the evolution of the team.

Playing with a new lineup due to injury, the Vikings outscored the Bison 45-38 in the second half Saturday, and took the defensive fight to the Bison, forcing 18 NDSU turnovers.  It was not enough to overcome a rough first half that saw the Bison take a 47-19 lead into the break.

But it was a start to rebuilding after some unfortunate breaks for the team.

The Vikings are playing without projected starter Mandi Bindas (Sr., Oxbow, ND), starter Brittany Lehner (So., Watertown, SD), both posts in a thin post lineup.  Bindas suffered a knee injury before the season started, and Lehner has suffered a separated shoulder.  Both are likely gone for the year.

The loss Saturday dropped the Vikings to 3-7 this season, as the team plays with several players new to the system, including a number of freshman.  The second half at NDSU showed progress in the group coming together.

The Cobbers have won both of their opening contests, games played at the Peace Tournament in Raleigh, NC last week.  They defeated Guilford, NC Friday 64-50, then knocked off Salem 73-46 for the championship Saturday.

Cobber opponents shot just 26% from the field over the two games.  Emily Thesing (Jr., Brainerd, MN) led three in double figures with 19 in Friday’s win, and Tricia Sorensen (Jr., Bismarck, ND) paced the team with 17 in Saturday’s win.  Both players were named to the all-tournament team, with Sorensen named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Gametime is 7:00 p.m. tonight, and pregame coverage will begin on KOVC-AM 1490 at 6:40 p.m.