VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) While the Viking women earned a hard-fought win to stay in the NSAA hunt, frustration unraveled in the mens matchup, and the night turned into a split.
Ashlyn Diemert again led the Viking women, pouring in 21 points, JayCee Richter adding 13 and Adriana Torres 10, in a 65-58 win for the Viking women over Dickinson State.
The mens game would be mired by four technical fouls, the ejection of Viking head coach Ryan Montgomery on a double technical, and a Dickinson State 89-79 win over the Vikings in the nightcap in Valley City.
In women’s play, with three-point threat Hailey Roberts out with illness, the Vikings were looking for offense, but found only one three-point shot in the opening half. VCSU attempted just four in the first half, forcing offense inside.
Diemert delivered, hitting seven field goals driving to the basket. Richter found success in the post, and freshman Ellie Powell had three big baskets in the post, powering the Vikings to a 27-20 lead.
Dickinson State responded behind key threes from Kayden Steele and Teagan Townsend, sparking an 11-2 run to give the Bluehawks a 31-29 lead with 2:18 left. Viking freshman post Rosie Anderson finished a hi-low look late to tie the game at 35-35 going into the break.
The game remained back-and-forth throughout the second half, the Vikings took a late 61-55 lead, and held on for a 65-58.
Elyse Hebrink led the Vikings in rebounding, picking up her ninth before the end of the game. Powell finished with six points and seven rebounds.
In mens play, Dickinson State used the three-point line to torch the Vikings early, and often, in the first half. The Bluehawks hit their first six shots of the game, four of them from beyond, and took a 16-6 lead.
The Vikings responded with an 11-0 run. Caden Grinde found two big baskets, including an ally-oop layin on a feed from Lamar Grayson to spark the run. Dickinson State responded with a 12-point first half from Jaiden Wright, and 62.5% shooting from the field, 58.3% from the three-point line, and the Bluehawks led 47-41 at half.
Bluehawk post Josiah Haaland would score six early second-half points, running the Dickinson State lead to 55-45 with 13:19 left.
An elongated Viking run would be fueled by Bedgood, who would run out to a 20-point night, and Lamar Grayson would drive and score, tying the game 63-63 with 6:50 left.
Griffyn Doughty hit two dagger threes, pushing the Bluehawk lead to six late.
The game turned shortly after.
On a battle for a loose ball, Haaland and Viking Ousseynou Ngom engaged on the floor, with several players ending up in a scramble, while Haaland rolled to his back, drawing Ngom’s arm over Haaland’s leg.
The officials stopped the play, and called Ngom for a controversial technical foul, claiming to the scorer’s table that Ngom grabbed Haaland’s leg in the battle.
Montgomery erupted and was called for two technical fouls in short order. Players restrained Montgomery for moments after his second technical foul, and again after he returned to the bench area. The crowd stood and applauded his effort.
Foul shooting took the lead for the Bluehawks to double figures once again.
Later in the game, Bedgood was called for technical foul for disputing a call with an official. The Bluehawks shot 18 foul shots in the second half, and stretched the lead to 13, settling for the 10-point win.
Bedgood finished the game with 28 points. Grayson added 16.
The Viking women are now 4-3 in NSAA play, 10-11 overall. The Viking men are 2-5 in league play, also 10-11. Both teams play at Mayville State Friday.