Vikings Drop Pair of Games at Northwestern Classic
(VCSU) ORANGE CITY, IOWA – The Valley City State women's basketball team dropped a pair of games to Northwestern College and Dordt University at the Northwestern Classic this weekend. Northwestern and Dordt are both currently receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
The Vikings fell to Northwestern on Friday night, 81-38. Dordt then defeated the Vikings on Saturday, 95-67. Northwestern improves to 3-0 on the season and Dordt improves to 5-1. VCSU falls to 2-3 overall.
Northwestern 81, VCSU 38
Tournament-host Northwestern College shot 51 percent from the field (34-67) and held the Vikings to shooting 24 percent on field goals (16-66) as the Red Raiders defeated the Vikings 81-38 Friday night.
Northwestern opened with a 26-6 advantage after the first quarter and never looked back. The Red Raiders totaled 18 points off of 17 Viking turnovers and held the rebounding advantage 48-31.
Northwestern also shot 43 percent on 3's (6-14) and 58 percent from the line (7-12) Friday. Valley City State shot 24 percent from 3-point range (5-21) and 50 percent on free throws (1-2).
Taryn Dieterle led the Vikings with 10 points, six rebounds, a block and a steal Friday. Hailey Roberts added seven points and dished out three assists for the Vikings. Emma Nielsen added seven points, and Ashlyn Diemert contributed five points off the Viking bench. Adriana Torres grabbed six rebounds for the Vikings Friday.
Northwestern's Emilee Danner scored a gamehigh 22 points and added seven rebounds, five blocks, four assists and four steals off the bench to lead the Red Raiders Friday. Molly Schany chipped in 16 points and Maddie Jones grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
Dordt 95, VCSU 67
Dordt opened Saturday's game with a 26-9 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play. The Defenders then expanded their lead to 58-21 at halftime after shooting 56 percent in the second quarter. The Vikings couldn't come back down the stretch as Dordt picked up its fifth win of the season with a 95-67 victory Saturday.
The Vikings shot 37 percent from the field (23-62), 38 percent on 3's (8-21) and 81 percent from the free throw line (13-16). The Defenders shot 43 percent on field goals (32-75), 34 percent from 3-point range (1338) and 82 percent on free throws (18-22).
Dordt scored 23 points off of 21 Viking turnovers while VCSU scored 11 points off of just eight Defender turnovers.
VCSU freshman Ashlyn Diemert scored four 3-pointers and 13 total points off the bench to lead Viking scorers. Allie Critchley chipped in 11 points, and added four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal for VCSU. Katie Johnson also added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench while Adriana Torres scored nine points and pulled down eight rebounds Saturday.
Dordt's Ashtyn Veerbeek scored a game-high 24 points and added nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals Saturday. Karly Gustafson scored 15 points, pulled down six rebounds – including four offensive boards – and dished out four assists. Hayden Heimensen poured in 14 points and Maggie Walker scored 12 off the Defender bench.
UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to NCAA Div. II school Bemidji State on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.