VALLEY CITY, N.D (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State women’s basketball team defeated Dakota State University in their conference home opener, 82-72.
Senior Mackenzie Huber scored a team-high 26 points on 10 for 15 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Vikings to their conference home-opening victory.
Valley City State shot 39 percent from the field (26-67), 22 percent on 3’s (4-18), and 79 percent from the free throw line (26-33). Dakota State shot 48 percent from the field (25-52), 27 percent on 3’s (6-22), and 33 percent from the free throw line (8-25).
Valley City State scored 30 points off of 32 Trojan turnovers Friday night. As a team, the Vikings also recorded 16 assists and out-rebounded the Trojans 39-33.
Vikings led early as they forced nine turnovers in the first quarter. With 2:31 on the clock, Macey Kvilvang blocked a Trojan shot recovered by the Vikings, allowing Maara Nelson to sink a 3-pointer from the corner. The Vikings led 20-12 to close out first.
The Trojans heated up in the second quarter as a Riley Peters 3-pointer with 5:03 on the clock brought Dakota State within one at 26-25. The Vikings would score the next five straight points to extend their lead in front of the home crowd and led 35-31 at the half.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Vikings began an 11-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Dani Schwanke to build a 13-point lead. Valley City State would lead by as much as 19 in the second half en route to their home victory over Dakota State, 82-72.
Valley City improves to to 4-8 this season and 2-0 in the North Star. Dakota State falls to 5-11 overall and 0-2 in the NSAA.
In addition to Huber’s performance, Maara Nelson added 13 points and four assists while Macey Kvilvang added 12 points, team-high five assists, and three steals for the Vikings.
Dakota State was led by Jessi Giles with 19 points Friday. Morgan Koepsell added 15 points and eight rebounds while Savannah Walsdorf scored 13 points and pulled down seven boards for the Trojans.
UP NEXT: Valley City State hosts (RV)Bellevue University on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m.
(Photos Courtesy of Hannah Anderson/VCSU Athletics)