DICKINSON, N.D. – Four Vikings scored in double figures Saturday as Valley City State defeated Dickinson State in the NSAA opener, 91-78.
Mackenzie Huber and Adriana Torres each recorded double-doubles as Huber scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Torres contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Maara Nelson added 16 points and Alexis Bentz added 11 points for the Vikings.
Valley City State improves to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the North Star. Dickinson State falls to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
The NSAA teams started out back-and-forth Saturday as the Vikings trailed 31-29 at the end of the first quarter. A Maara Nelson basket with 7:13 on the clock in the second quarter gave the Vikings the lead they wouldn’t give up en route to the conference victory. Valley City State went on to outscore Dickinson State 21-10 in the second quarter to pull away with a 50-41 lead at halftime.
With the Vikings leading 60-48 with 5:30 left in the third quarter, a three pointer from Dickinson State began a 16-7 run to cut the Viking lead to 67-64 at the end of the third
Valley City State answered back in the fourth quarter, scoring 24 points and holding Dickinson State to just 14 to secure the 91-78 win.
Valley City State shot 50 percent from the field (32-64), 41 percent on 3-pointers (9-22) and 78 percent at the line (18-23). Dickinson State finished the game at 41 percent overall (31-75), 32 percent on 3’s (12-38) and 67 percent on free throws (4-6).
Valley City State committed only nine fouls to Dickinson State’s 19. The Vikings also scored 37 bench points to the Blue Hawks’ 10.
Dickinson State was led by Sydney Clark who scored 19 points and had eight assists while Ashlie Larson added 17 points for the Blue Hawks.
UP NEXT: Valley City State resumes play in three weeks when they travel to the Briar Cliff University Classic for a series of games in Sioux City, Iowa. Their first game of the tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28, when they play No. 8 Morningside College at 1 p.m.