VALLEY CITY – The Valley City State women's basketball team outscored Viterbo University 13-1 to start the second half Friday night, breaking open a close game en route to a 66-45 conference victory

After falling behind 16-11 early in the second quarter, Valley City State ended the first half and started the second half with a 25-4 run, opening up a 36-20 advantage with 5:15 left in the third quarter. After the V-Hawks closed to within 42-34, the Vikings put the game away for good with a 13-0 run to build a 21-point lead.

Valley City State improves to 12-11 overall and 9-3 in the North Star Athletic Association. With two conference games remaining, the Vikings can earn at least a share of the conference championship if they defeat both Waldorf University and Mayville State University. VCSU hosts Waldorf on Saturday and then finishes the conference schedule by hosting Mayville State on Feb. 16.

Viterbo drops to 8-16 overall and 2-10 in the NSAA. The V-Hawks will play at Mayville State on Saturday.

Valley City State scored the first nine points of the game, opening up a 9-0 lead after Hannah Schlecht's basket inside with 3:36 left in the first quarter. The V-Hawks would answer back quickly, closing the quarter with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 11-11 after 10 minutes of play. Viterbo continued its run with the first five points of the second quarter, opening up a 16-11 lead on Madison Doer's 3-point play early in the period.

The Vikings responded with a big run of their own. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Alexis Bentz and Gabby Martin capped a 12-2 spurt by the Vikings and gave VCSU the lead back at 23-18. The Vikings took a 23-19 lead into the locker room. Neither team shot the ball well in the first half as the Vikings went to the halftime break shooting just 28 percent while the V-Hawks shot 22 percent.

The Vikings turned it on in the second half, shooting 50 percent over the final 20 minutes as they outscored Viterbo 43-26 after the break. Valley City State made just two 3's in the second half but converted four 3-point plays inside, including two by Mackenzie Huber and one each by Emily Schafer and Alli Vandal.

Schafer finished with a game-high 14 points off the bench to lead four Vikings in double figures. She scored 12 of those in the second half. Huber scored 10 second-half points as she finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Gabby Martin finished with 11 points; Alli Vandal scored 10; and Hannah Schlecht poured in nine. Dierra Diegel had team-highs of eight rebounds and three steals to go along with four points.

The Vikings finished the game shooting 38 percent overall (20-53), 26 percent on 3's (5-19) and 81 percent at the line (21-26). Viterbo shot just 25 percent overall (14-56), 20 percent on 3's (4-20) and 62 percent on free throws (13-21).

Valley City State held a 40-32 rebounding advantage. The Vikings committed 14 turnovers while Viterbo had 16 giveaways.

Madessa Collins led the V-Hawks with 11 points and seven rebounds. Alyssa Nilssen posted eight points and nine boards.

Up next: Valley City State hosts Waldorf University for a conference doubleheader on Saturday at 3 and 5 p.m. Viterbo University travels to Mayville for a Saturday doubleheader, also at 3/5 p.m.