Vikings Drop First-Round Playoff Battle to Comets

MAYVILLE – The Valley City State women's basketball team ended its season at Mayville State Tuesday, falling in a hard-fought battle to the Comets, 56-53.

Valley City State finishes the season with an 8-13 overall record and a 6-8 conference record. Mayville State (14-7) continues its postseason campaign on Thursday against the winner of tonight's Dakota State/ Presentation matchup.

Macey Kvilvang set a new school record with seven blocked shots Tuesday. She also scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Vikings. Also reaching double figures were Adriana Torres (13), Maara Nelson (11), and Taryn Dieterle (10). Torres added eight rebounds and a team-high four assists for VCSU.

Valley City State never trailed by more than seven points in the first half and closed the second quarter on an 8-2 run to hold its first tie of the game heading into the locker room at 29all.

The Vikings took the first lead of the game on a deep two-point jumper from Macey Kvilvang to hold the 37-35 advantage. With 3:34 to go in the third quarter. Mayville's Danneka Voegeli answered with a bucket to tie it up again. After two scoreless minutes, a three-pointer from

Emma Nielsen put the Vikings back on top with 1:48 left in the third quarter.

The Vikings led by as much as six points early in the fourth quarter on a Kvilvang three-pointer to make it 45-39. The Comets then took an 11-2 run to lead 50-47 with 3:29 to go. Mayville State finished the fourth quarter going 4-for-6 on free throws to take the 56-53 victory over the Vikings.

Valley City State shot 29 percent on field goals (18-62), 33 percent on three-pointers (5-15), and 67 percent on free throws (12-18). Mayville State shot 38 percent from the field (23-60), 18 percent on three-pointers (2-11), and 67 percent from the free throw line (8-12).

Valley City State tallied 12 blocks as a team and forced 17 Comet turnovers. Mayville held the rebounding advantage Tuesday, 4339.

Danneka Voegeli led the Comets with a double-double Tuesday, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Jordan Zrust added 14 points and Erin Walcker finished with 10.