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(NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City State women’s basketball team survived and advanced during the quarterfinals of the Association of Independent Institutions Tournament on Friday at the Jamestown Civic Center.
The No. 3-seeded Vikings lost a 13-point halftime lead under a second-half barrage of 3-pointers from No. 6 seed Rochester College, but recovered in the final minutes for a 57-52 victory.
Valley City State (23-6) advances to the semifinals of the A.I.I. Tournament on Saturday where they will play No. 2 seed Mayville State (20-4). The Vikings and Comets have played three times this season. Mayville State won the first two but the Vikings won the last meeting on Feb. 13. The winner of Saturday’s semifinal advances to the NAIA National Tournament. The Vikings are seeking their 3rd straight berth in nationals.
In Friday’s quarterfinals, Valley City led 38-25 at halftime, but shot just 18 percent in the second half. Rochester made five of their first nine 3-point attempts in the second half to fuel a 17-2 run that gave them a 44-42 lead. A 3 by Courtney Titus put the Vikings back up 47-46. Rochester regained the lead at 48-47 before the Vikings before the Vikings made free throws down the stretch to outscore Rochester 10-4 in the final minutes.
Brittany Lehner and Stephanie Pederson both went 2-for-2 at the free throw line in the final minute to seal the 57-52 win.
Lehner led the Vikings with 14 points. Pederson, making her first start of the season, had nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. She was 9-for-10 at the free throw line.
Rochester (13-14) was led by 11 points and 11 rebounds from Sam Tamaschko. Jassmone Russell scored 10, making three 3-pointers.
In the second women’s quarterfinal game, No. 5 seed Ashford (Iowa) knocked off No. 4 Johnson and Wales 85-67. Ashford got 26 points from Madison Wagner and 22 from Quinn Rear as they led comfortably throughout.
Ashford advances to Saturday’s semifinals where they will take on top seed Jamestown College at 3 p.m. Saturday. The winner moves on to the NAIA National Tournament.