Viking women defeat Mount Marty 67-63 at NAIA Classic

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Valley City State women's basketball team totaled 12 3-pointers in a Sunday afternoon 67-63 victory over Mount Marty at the NAIA Basketball Classic.

Taryn Dieterle and Hailey Roberts led the effort with three 3's each. Dieterle totaled 15 points to lead the Vikings while Roberts finished with 11 points, all in the first half. Valley City State improves to 4-1 on the season while Mount Marty drops to 2-2 overall.

After trailing 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, VCSU stepped up with a 17-6 run over the first six minutes of the second quarter to build a 25-18 lead.

Mount Marty opened the second half with a 10-3 run, halted by a 3-pointer from Allie Critchley to tie the game at 38-38. VCSU finished the third quarter on a 15-4 run including additional 3's from Madison Spacher and Adriana Torres. The Lancers would close the gap to trail 62-58 with 1:56 left in the game, but the Vikings held on for the win.

VCSU shot 38 percent from the field Sunday (24-63), 34 percent from 3-point range (12-35) and 70 percent on free throws (7-10). Mount Marty shot 41 percent on field goals (22-54), 33 percent on 3-pointers (4-12) and 83 percent from the free throw line (15-18).

VCSU held the rebounding advantage 42-30, including 14 on the offensive glass. The Vikings also totaled 16 assists and eight steals while Mount Marty tallied nine assists and 14 steals in the game.

Ten Vikings scored at least a point in Sunday's victory, led by Dieterle's 15 points and nine rebounds. Katie Johnson and Allie Critchley each finished with nine points and three assists for VCSU.

Adriana Torres chipped in seven points and dished a team-best four assists, and Ashlyn Diemert and Allie Negen each scored five points for the Vikings.

Mount Marty's Eve Millar scored a gamehigh 20 points Sunday while Kaity Hove chipped in 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Millar, Abbie Jennings and Emma Jarovski each recorded three steals Sunday.

UP NEXT: VCSU travels to Bemidji State University for an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 11. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn.