From VCSU Athletics

BELLEVUE, NE. (VCSUAthletics.com) – Three Vikings scored in double figures Friday night, but it wasn’t enough for the Valley City State women’s basketball team as they fell to Bellevue University, 78-55.

Ashlyn Diemert led the Vikings with 17 points while Allie Negen and Adriana Torres each chipped in 11 points Friday.

The Vikings are now 9-13 overall and 6-6 in conference play. The Bruins improve to 12-15 overall and 5-7 in the NSAA. VCSU sits in fifth place in the conference standings with just two conference games remaining in the regular season.

Bellevue used a 13-0 run midway through the second quarter to pull away from the Vikings and held a 41-20 advantage at halftime. The Vikings opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 rally, capped by a jumper from Bayli Heap, but it wouldn’t be enough to come back. The Bruins held on down the stretch to finish with the 78-55 victory.

Bellevue shot 45 percent on field goals Friday night (27-60), 35 percent from beyond the arc (7-20) and 57 percent from the charity stripe (17-30). VCSU shot 32 percent from the field (18-57), 20 percent on 3’s (6-30) and 68 percent from the free throw line (13-19).

Bellevue finished with the rebounding advantage 51-32, including 15 on the offensive glass. The Vikings tallied nine steals led by Allie Critchley and Meredith Dumas who recorded three steals apiece.

Dumas also scored nine points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds Friday night. Diemert added six rebounds and dished out a team-best three assists for VCSU.

Bellevue’s Elexis Martinez led all scorers with 19 points while going 8-for-11 from the field. Faith Ross chipped in 12 points for Bellevue and Miranda Hennings pulled down seven rebounds. Meleah Turner dished out a game-high six assists for the Bruins.

UP NEXT: VCSU travels to No. 25 Dakota State on Saturday. The women are slated to tip at 3 p.m. with the men to follow at 5 p.m.