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(VCSUVikings.com)- The Vikings traveled to Mayville Friday night to open conference. VCSU picked up the sweep against Mayville State University in a pair of close games. The women won 59-56 and the men 70-65.
WBB: VCSU 59 MSU 56
Valley City State started fast and held off a late Comet charge as the Viking women’s basketball team opened conference play with a 59-56 victory Friday night.
VCSU jumped out to a 20-11 lead after the first quarter and led by as many as 16 in the first half. The Comets closed to gap to one in the fourth quarter – 49-48 – but Hannah Schlecht, Alli Vandal and Sara Schwanke scored in a 6-0 run as VCSU re-established a comfortable lead and held on down the stretch.
Valley City State improves to 8-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Vikings have now won five games in a row. Mayville State drops to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Lexi Lennon poured in 16 points to lead VCSU’s offense. Georgia Williamsadded 15 points and seven rebounds, including three 3-pointers in the first quarter. Kennedy Henningsgard added nine points and four rebounds, and Vandal had six points and seven rebounds. Hannah Schlecht and Sara Schwanke each added five points, and Kaitlin Connor had two points and seven rebounds.
VCSU shot 37 percent overall (22-60), 27 percent on 3’s (6-22) and 60 percent on free throws (9-15). The Vikings had a 43-41 advantage on the glass, and committed 14 turnovers compared to 16 for Mayville.
Mayville State shot 33 percent overall (20-61), 26 percent on 3’s (6-23) and 63 percent on free throws (10-16). Andi Gayner led the Comets with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Claire Blascziek scored 15 points.
MBB: VCSU 70 MSU 65
The Viking men’s basketball team won its fifth straight game Friday night, opening North Star conference play with a 70-65 victory at Mayville State.
VCSU’s five starters combined to score all 70 points in the game as the Vikings improved to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Mayville State drops to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in the NSAA.
The Vikings trailed 23-16 with 7:43 remaining in the first half, but closed on a 14-4 run to take a 30-27 lead into halftime. VCSU extended the lead to 39-29 early in the second half before Mayville State scored 10 straight points to tie the game at 39-39.
From there the teams went back-and-forth until VCSU gained a 52-51 lead on a pair of free throws from Jayden Ferguson. The Vikings held a narrow lead the rest of the way, and Rashad Satahoo made four free throws in the final five seconds to ice the game.
Ferguson led VCSU with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Austin Dunbarposted 19 points and eight rebounds. Satahoo went 10-for-10 on free throws as he finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Alex Quist added 10 points, and Ellwood Ellenson had four points and seven rebounds.
VCSU shot 42 percent overall (21-50) but went 55 percent from the field in the second half. The Vikings shot 35 percent on 3-pointers (9-26) and 91 percent at the line (19-21).
Mayville State shot 39 percent overall (23-59), 47 percent on 3’s (8-17) and 69 percent at the free throw line (11-16).
The Vikings held a 36-32 edge on the glass. VCSU had 10 assists and 13 turnovers, while the Comets had 10 assists and 10 turnovers.
Ferguson’s 20 points moved him into 10th all-time in scoring at VCSU. He now has 1,262 career points, passing Brandon Bata’s mark of 1,246 to move into the Top 10.
Up next: VCSUtravels to Presentation College on Saturday. Tip off for the women is at 3. The game can be heard on KOVC 1490 AM and streamed online at www.newsdakota.com