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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–It was a bitter-sweet day for Viking baskestball at the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) tournament in Madison, SD Saturday.

The Viking women qualified for the NAIA Division II national tournament with a thrilling 58-50 win over Jamestown College in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Valley City State was on the outside looking in a week ago, needing a win at Mayville State to advance to the AII tourney.  After a 61-45 win over Dakota State last night, the Vikings finally knocked off the seventh-ranked and top-seeded Jimmies, after losing three previous games to them earlier this year.

Brittany Lehner (So., Watertown, SD) led the Vikings with 14 points.  Alyssa Hummel (Jr., West Fargo, ND) added 11, and Sierra Even (Fr., Windom, MN) chipped in nine.

While the women celebrated, the men saw a late season collapse become total with an 83-72 loss to Dakota State in the tournament semi-finals, ending their season.  The Vikings were, at one time, ranked 17th in the nation, but failed to win a decisive game down the stretch, losing their last four games.

Sekani Milligan (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, FL) scored 23 in the loss.  Aaron Duske (So., Buffalo, MN) knocked in 16, and A. J. McDonald (Fr., Killeen, TX) added 11.

The loss marks the third Viking mens team in four years to win 20 games or more and fail to reach the national tournament.  It also ended a disappointing second half of the season that saw the Vikings struggle to compete after winning a tournament title in Winnipeg, MB in December and upsetting the Jamestown College Jimmies in January.

The Viking women will begin play at the national tournament in Sioux City, IA March 6th.