LaCROSSE, WI  (NewsDakota.com)  While the Viking women brought a charge to the air with their finish, the air was sucked from the gym by hot Viterbo shooting in the mens half.

Ashlyn Diemert hit a fall-away baseline jumper as time expired, lifting Valley City State to a 79-78 win over the Viterbo V-Hawks in LaCrosse, WI Saturday.

Diemert’s bucket came as the Vikings gained possession with 20 seconds left, and three Viterbo fouls under the limit drained the clock to 3.5 seconds to go.  Diemert hit the shot off of the inbounds pass to seal the win, and tally her team-high 23rd point.

The Vikings took an early 31-21 lead, but foul trouble in the post allowed the V-Hawks to charge back into the game, leading by as many as six in the fourth.  The comeback kept the Vikings in sole possession of fourth place in the North Star Athletic Association by two games.

Hailey Roberts finished a strong weekend with 20 points, and Taryn Dieterle added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

In mens play, a Viking defense that thrives on challenging shots and forcing turnovers found those aims fleeting, and Viterbo shot 57.6% from the field and committed only 12 giveaways in a 94-62 V-Hawk victory.

The lead was 41-29 at halftime, but the Vikings struggled to find their rhythm, as five V-Hawks scored in double figures.  Viterbo shot 54.5% from the three-point line and attacked the Viking zone with repetitive success in the interior.

Daevonte Munson again led the Vikings with 15 points.  Hunter Lyman scored 11 and pulled in 11 rebounds in the loss.  Munson and Diemert were named Ivy Real Estate Group Players of the Game.

The Viking men fall into a fourth-place tie in the NSAA with Dickinson State, who the Vikings have beaten in their lone matchup and see again at the end of the season.

Both Viking teams host Bellevue Friday and Dakota State Saturday.