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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–The Viking women will start their latest run through the national tournament against one of the best in the nation.

Valley City State will face College of the Ozarks of Point Lookout, MO, Thursday at 1:45 p.m. at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA, in the opening round of the NAIA Division II national tourney.

The Lady Bobcats won the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) tournament, and finished third in the final regular season national poll with a 29-3 record.  They have not lost a game since December 30th, when they lost their second straight game, a 76-59 loss to Asuza Pacific, CA.

Their two losses in California were both to unranked teams.  They have since won 20 straight games.  None of those wins came over teams that are currently ranked, and the Lady Bobcats have not played a ranked team this season.

The Lady Bobcats are led by Morgan Smith (Jr., Nixa, MO), who led the MCAC in scoring this season at 19.8 points per game.  Maranda Vaught (Sr., Crane, MO) adds just under 10 points. 

The Vikings qualified for the national tournament with a 58-50 win over Jamestown College in the semifinals of the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) tournament in Madison, SD, last weekend.  They are currently 19-14.

Coverage of the Vikings will be heard on Dakota Country Radio next week.