WATERTOWN, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com)– After sharing the North Star Athletic Association regular season championship, Mayville State and Bellevue University will battle for the NSAA Tournament Championship on Sunday.
No. 2 seed Bellevue punched its ticket to the NSAA Championship with a 57-54 victory over No. 3 seed Valley City State in Saturday’s second semifinal. The Bruins held the Vikings to just 21 percent shooting through the first three quarters, building a 46-30 lead before hanging on in the final minute for a 57-54 win.
The Bruins improve to 22-9 overall and will face Mayville State in Sunday’s championship at the Watertown Civic Arena. Top seed Mayville State University defeated Presentation College in Saturday’s first semifinal, 71-44. It will be the third meeting of the season between Mayville and Bellevue. Mayville State won the first two contests.
Valley City State ends its season with a 14-14 overall record. The Vikings were third in the NSAA regular season standings with a 10-4 conference record.
The Vikings scored the first five points of the game and held an 8-4 lead before Bellevue scored 13 straight points, taking a 17-8 lead early in the second quarter. The Bruins would not trail again in the game. Bellevue held a 28-19 lead at the half, holding the Vikings to just 21 percent shooting over the first 20 minutes.
Bellevue extended its lead to 46-30 after three quarters, outscoring the Vikings 18-11 in the third quarter – including a buzzer-beating 3 by Faith Ross.
The Vikings opened the fourth quarter with a 9-1 run, closing the gap to 47-39 on Gabby Martin’s two free throws with 6:06 remaining. VCSU clawed its way even closer when Hannah Schlechtnailed a left-wing 3 with 2:01 to go, cutting the deficit to 52-46. Alli Vandal followed with a basket inside with 1:00 left, pulling VCSU to within 52-48.
After the teams traded free throws, Hannah Schlecht’s steal and layup with 27 seconds left pulled the Vikings to within 54-52. The Viking defense forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, giving VCSU the ball with a chance to tie the game. VCSU’s Alli Vandal was stripped as she went up for a putback with seven seconds to go, and Bellevue came away with the ball. Bellevue’s Jamie Winkler went 1-for-2 at the line, and then Bellevue fouled VCSU’s Hannah Schlecht with three seconds left to prevent a game-tying 3-pointer. Schlecht’s two free throws cut the deficit to 55-54, but Faith Ross nailed two free throws on the other end to ice the victory.
Vandal, a senior, had a monster double-double in her final collegiate game, leading the Vikings with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Schlecht, also a senior, added 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Gabby Martin finished with nine points and three assists.
Jamie Winkler led the Bruins with 20 points and five rebounds as the only player in double figures. Elexis Martinez added nine points, and Laura Jurek chipped in seven.
Bellevue shot 39 percent overall (19-49), 29 percent on 3’s (4-14) and 58 percent at the line (15-26). Valley City State finished the game at 29 percent overall (17-59), 38 percent on 3’s (6-16) and 14-for-14 at the free throw line.
Bellevue finished with 12 assists, 16 turnovers and five steals. Valley City State had 11 assists, 11 turnovers and nine steals.
Up next: Bellevue advances to the NSAA Championship Game, Sunday at 1 p.m. against Mayville State University. Valley City State ends its season with a 14-14 overall record.