DICKINSON, N.D. – Valley City State's postseason run came to an end Friday night as the Vikings ran into a hot-shooting Dickinson State team.
The No. 24-ranked Blue Hawks took advantage of their home rims as they went 6-for-9 from 3-point range to start the game and finished 10-for-19 from long distance, rolling to an 83-56 victory in the North Star Athletic Association women's basketball semifinals.
Valley City State's season comes to an end with an 18-10 overall record. Dickinson State (22-7) moves on to the NSAA championship game on Sunday.
Dickinson State started the game on fire, going 5-for-8 on 3's in the first quarter as they built a 23-8 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Vikings were within 5-4 after three minutes of play, but the Blue Hawks opened the lead up with 10 straight points and an 18-4 run to end the first quarter.
The Blue Hawks kept it rolling early in the second quarter as Rachael McDonough drained a 3 from 25 feet that put them up 26-8. The Vikings regrouped with a small 6-0 run over the next 2:30, making it 26-14. Dickinson would close the half though with a 14-5 run for a 40-19 halftime lead.
VCSU's offense started to come around in the third quarter but they couldn't slow down the Blue Hawks who shot 63 percent in the third quarter and 59 percent in the second half. The Blue Hawks led by as many as 31 points in the third at 62-31. Georgia Williams and Lexi Lennon hit back-to-back baskets to stem the tide a bit before the Blue Hawks ended the quarter with a 64-37 lead. The teams played to a 19-19 tie in the fourth quarter for a 83-56 final.
Valley City State shot 27 percent in the first half (7-26) and finished the game at 37 percent overall (21-57). The Vikings went 22 percent on 3's (4-18) and were 10-for-15 at the free throw line.
Alli Vandal scored 11 points off the bench to lead VCSU. Georgia Williams finished with nine points, four rebounds and four assists. Lexi Lennon added eight points and Courtney Dixon chipped in six.
Dickinson State shot 49 percent overall (33-68), 53 percent from 3-point range (10-19), and went 7-for-9 at the free throw line.
Janniqua Thomas led the Blue Hawks with 20 points. Ashley Bentz hit three 3's and scored 15 points, and MacKayla Feeney went 4-for-7 on 3's to finish with 14 points.
Dickinson State moves on to face either top seed University of Jamestown or Mayville State in the NSAA championship game. That second semifinal was being played later Friday night in Jamestown. The winner of the NSAA championship game earns the conference's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament.
