BILLINGS, MONT. – Valley City State outscored Rocky Mountain College 21-17 in the fourth quarter Tuesday as the Viking women's basketball team opened the second half of the 2015-16 season with a 64-62 road victory.
Sara Schwanke poured in 14 points and scored the go-ahead basket with 2.2 seconds left as the Vikings improve to 8-5 overall. The victory avenges a 62-58 loss to Rocky Mountain back on Oct. 31.
Rocky Mountain, which is ranked No. 20 in NAIA Division I, drops to 10-3 on the season. The Bears' three losses have all come against North Star Athletic Association teams: Valley City State, University of Jamestown and Dickinson State.
Tuesday's game at the Hampton Inn Classic featured 15 lead changes. VCSU led 18-16 after the first quarter, and led by as many as eight in the second quarter after Williams and Schwanke opened the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Vikings held a 32-29 lead at halftime, but Rocky Mountain outscored VCSU 16-11 in the third quarter to take a 45-43 lead. The Vikings rallied back early in the fourth and the two teams exchanged leads down the stretch. Tied at 62-62, Schwanke sank a 12-foot jumper from the left baseline with 2.2 seconds left, giving the Vikings a 64-62 lead. Rocky Mountain had a chance to tie after being fouled with 0.3 seconds left, but missed both free throws as VCSU hung on for the victory.
Valley City State shot 45 percent from the field (26-54), 53 percent from 3-point range (10-19) and 50 percent at the free throw line (2-4). Rocky Mountain finished at 39 percent from the field (22-57), 40 percent from 3-point range (6-15) and 50 percent on free throws (12-24).
Six different Vikings made 3-pointers, including three by Georgia Williams – which finished with 13 points – and two each by Schwanke and Nisja Bass. Lexi Lennon and Mackenzie Huber both scored nine points for the Vikings, and Alli Vandal and Bass each added seven. Courtney Dixon chipped in five.
VCSU had 16 turnovers, 14 assists, nine steals and three blocks. Rocky Mountain finished with 13 turnovers, 13 assists, six steals and no blocks.
Up next: VCSU (8-5, 3-0 NSAA) takes on Montana-Western at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to close out the trip to Billings. Montana-Western defeated Dickinson State, 81-62 on Tuesday.
