MITCHELL, S.D. – Valley City State fell to nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday night, 72-58.
The Vikings came out hot with a 19-13 lead, including eight points from Mackenzie Huber, in the first quarter. The Tigers made four 3’s leading to a 14-2 run in the last four minutes to take a 27-21 lead at the end of the first.
Dakota Wesleyan scored eight straight points in the first five minutes to start the second quarter. The Vikings would break the Tiger run with a 3-pointer from Alexis Bentz but neither team would score in the last four minutes of the quarter as the Tigers led 35-24 at the half.
Valley City State continued to fight back as they cut the Dakota Wesleyan down to nine points by the end of the third quarter at 50-41, capped by back-to-back 3’s from Alexis Bentz and Adriana Torres.
Dakota Wesleyan would go on to shoot 57 percent in the fourth quarter as they gained a lead as large as 18 points. The Vikings would score 12 points off of 3-pointers in the fourth but couldn’t make a comeback as Dakota Wesleyan defeated the Vikings 72-58.
Valley City State shot 39 percent from the field (20-51), 54 percent on 3’s (13-24), and 71 percent from the free throw line (5-7). The Vikings also had 26 bench points Wednesday, including team-high 17 points from Adriana Torres.
Mackenzie Huber had 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals for the Vikings. Alexis Bentz and Gabby Martin each had three 3’s in the game for nine points each.
Dakota Wesleyan shot 42 percent from the field (27-65), 41 percent on 3’s (12-29), and 100 percent on free throws (6-6). The Tigers had 19 assists to the Vikings’ seven and 11 steals to the Vikings’ five.
Kynedi Cheeseman led the Tigers with 29 points, eight assists, and three steals Wednesday night. Makaela Karst added fifteen points and five rebounds while Sarah Carr tallied 13 points and six rebounds.
Valley City State falls to 0-2 on the season. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 1-0 this season.
UP NEXT: Valley City State hosts Providence College on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.