Viking Women Stopped by Bellevue

Posted By: ryanc
February 15, 2025 @ 1:55 pm
Sports

BELLEVUE, NEB. (VCSUVikings.com)– Three Vikings scored in double figures Friday night but it wasn’t enough as the Valley City State women’s basketball team fell 78-63 to Bellevue University on the road.

Bellevue also had three players score in double figures Friday, led by a game-high 19 points from Gabby Moore including four 3-pointers. VCSU drops to 13-12 on the season and 5-8 in conference play. Bellevue improves to 13-11 overall and 5-7 in the North Star. The Vikings have two regular season conference games remaining and are still within reach of playing its opening round playoff game at home.

Bellevue stunted the Vikings in the opening frame, only allowing three VCSU field goals and forcing seven turnovers in the first quarter. Kaylee Denker scored 10 first quarter points to help the Bruins build a 15-7 lead after the first 10 minutes. Bellevue then pulled away in the second quarter with five 3-pointers to build a 38-22 lead at the break.

The Bruins continued to pull away and led by as much as 29 points on a free throw from Zakiyyah Muhammad in the fourth quarter. VCSU’s Madison Spacher scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter but the Vikings fell short down the stretch, 78-63.

VCSU shot 43 percent from the field (26-60), 26 percent on 3’s (6-23) and 36 percent on free throws (5-14) Friday night. Bellevue shot 39 percent overall (26-66), 37 percent on 3-pointers (10-27) and 76 percent from the free throw line (16-21). VCSU totaled 11 assists and 19 turnovers in the game while Bellevue recorded 17 assists and 10 turnovers.

Abby Aslesen finished with a team-high 14 points while Olivia Backus added 12 points and Spacher scored 10. Ashlyn Diemert and Liz Lukken each scored six, and JayCee Richter dished a team-best three assists on the night. Aslesen grabbed a team-best eight rebounds while Ellie Braaten grabbed seven.

Bellevue’s Ashtyn Arnold tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds to finish with a double double Friday night. Kaylee Denker finished with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Bruins.