SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling 67-51 to Dakota Wesleyan at the NAIA Basketball Classic.

Dakota Wesleyan opened with eight straight points in Saturday’s game and built a 20-10 advantage after the first ten minutes of play.  The Vikings couldn’t find a run as the Tigers expended its lead to 37-23 at the half.

The Tigers opened the second half with a 10-point run to lead 47-23. Back-to-back 3’s from VCSU’s Adriana Torres helped close the gap as the Vikings trailed 51-32 with under a minute left in the third quarter. Valley City State finished the game on a nine-point run but time ran out as Dakota Wesleyan finished with a 67-51 victory Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan improves to 2-0 on the season and Valley City State falls to 1-1 overall.

Valley City State shot 31 percent from the field (19-61), 33 percent from 3-point range (7-21) and 50 percent on free throws (6-12). Dakota Wesleyan shot 39 percent from the field (27-69), just 8 percent on 3’s (1-12) and 80 percent from the free throw line (12-15). Dakota Wesleyan outrebounded the Vikings 50-36, including 15 on the offensive glass.

Adriana Torres paced the Vikings with 14 points – including three 3-pointers Saturday. Torres added nine rebounds while Hailey Roberts finished with eight points and a pair of assists. Allie Negen totaled eight points and three rebounds off the Viking bench. Taryn Dieterle added a team-best three steals Saturday.

Dakota Wesleyan’s Jada Campbell posted a game-high 18 points Saturday and added six rebounds, four blocks and a steal. Matti Reiner totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while Kaylee Kirk contributed eight points and three steals for the Tigers.

UP NEXT: Valley City State takes on Mount Marty to conclude play at the NAIA Basketball Classic on Sunday. Tip is schedueld for 12 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.