VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) Viking basketball survived a cold night from the field in womens play, and a hot shooting opponent in mens play to sweep a doubleheader with Waldorf Saturday.
Valley City State edged Waldorf 64-59 in womens play, the ran past the Warriors 87-77 in mens play to cap the weekend.
The Viking women swept the weekend, defeating Viterbo Friday night. In mens play, the Vikings salvaged a split, after an 89-82 loss the the V-Hawks Friday night.
Plenty of factors were against Valley City State in the womens half. They shook off 37% shooting, and a 1-13 performance from the three-point line. The Viking women led by four at the break, then trailed in most of the third, before coming back to score their second win of the weekend.
Inside scoring sparked the Viking rally. Taryn Dieterle dominated the fourth quarter, finishing with 16 points to lead Valley City State. Adriana Torres played several minutes with her back to the basket as well, and finished with 14.
Hot shooting from beyond dominated the first-half storyline for the Warriors in the mens matchup. Waldorf hit eight three-point shots in the first half, shooting 61.5% from the arc in the half. Noah Miller scored 11 in the first half for the Warriors, hitting three of their eight triples.
The Vikings countered with strong post play and bench scoring. Hunter Lyman scored five field goals in the first half, receiving a lift after Waldorf experienced foul trouble in the post. The bench would deliver 17 of the Vikings 38 points at the break.
Despite the Warriors continuing their blistering three-point shooting, at one point hitting 13 of 22, the Viking defense and Cleveland Bedgood changed the complexion of the game in the second half.
Bedgood finished with 26 off the bench, 6-7 from three-point land and 9-11 from the field. He scored 19 after halftime. Meanwhile, the Viking defense forced 11 second-half turnovers to disrupt Waldorf’s offensive game.
Bedgood and Dieterle received Ivy Real Estate Group Player of the Game honors.
The Vikings travel to Presentation College and Mayville State next Friday and Saturday.