VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  Valley City State rallied late to overcome an eight-point deficit to knock off the University of Jamestown 77-74 in women’s play, while the Viking men could not overcome matchup problems in a 75-68 loss to the Jimmies Friday at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City.

WOMEN:  VCSU 77, UJ 74

As Viking freshman Abby Aslesen struggled through foul trouble, and senior Ashlyn Diemert was chased by a Jimmie defense that she torched for 11 three-point shots in the previous meeting, Valley City State needed someone to keep them in the game.

Enter Ellie Braaten.

Braaten scored 23 points, including 4-8 three-point shooting and 9-11 from the foul line, to lead the Vikings to a come-from-behind win 77-74.

Valley City State outscored the Jimmies 15-2 to win the game, including an 8-0 run that tied the game 70-70.  Braaten hit a key three in that sequence to fuel the comeback.

Aslesen, who had played only 10 minutes in the first three quarters of the game, erupted for 10 of her 16 in the fourth quarter, including splashing a three to give the Vikings a 73-72 lead.

After the Jimmies reclaimed a 74-73 edge, Elyse Hebrink drove and scored the eventual game-winning basket.  Braaten added two additional free throws to push the lead, and the Viking defense forced a pair of Jimmie turnovers in the final seconds to hold on for the win.

Aslesen finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Diemert added 13 points in win.  The Vikings have beaten teams either ranked or receiving votes in four straight meetings over the past month.

The Vikings are now 5-6 in NSAA play, 13-10 overall.  The Jimmies fell to 6-5 in NSAA play, 16-6 overall.  The Vikings have passed Bellevue for fourth place in the conference.

MEN:  UJ 75, VCSU 68

The Jimmies were successful in creating matchup problems all evening related to standouts Anthony Walters and Jimmy Llinas.

Walters muscled through perimeter defense repeatedly, scoring 15 of his game-high 23 in the second half, while Llinas found position in the Jimmie high-low offense for 15 points and six rebounds.

UJ screeners forced the Vikings into defensive switches, and often guards were stuck defending the 6’8″ Llinas, a matchup that favored the Jimmies.  Walters successfully isolated into one-on-one matchups through the night.

Silas Bennion scored 18 for the Jimmies, and Will Cordes added 11.

Lamar Grayson scored 18 for the Vikings in a return to the lineup after missing last week due to illness.  Jayden Patcha scored 17 points in standout night in his Viking career, shooting 6-9 from the field and 4-5 from the foul line.

The Jimmie gained a game on Dickinson State in the standings, after the Bluehawks dropped a game on the road at Mayville State.  UJ is 8-3 in NSAA play, 13-9 overall, and trail the Bluehawks by a single game.

Valley City State is now 2-9 in league play, 11-12 overall.

Valley City State hosts Dickinson State Saturday, while the University of Jamestown travels to Mayville State.