BEMIDJI, MINN. – The Valley City State women's basketball team held a 43-43 tie after three quarters of play Tuesday night, but Bemidji State won the battle to take a 67-57 victory over the Vikings.
 
Adriana Torres paced the Vikings with 22 points and six rebounds in Tuesday's exhibition action. The Vikings return home for a non-conference doubleheader against the University of Jamestown on Saturday, Dec. 30.
 
VCSU's Torres and Ashlyn Diemert helped the Vikings build an early 11-4 lead in Tuesday's contest, and a layup from Torres gave VCSU a 17-15 edge after the first quarter.  Bemidji answered with a 12-2 run in the second quarter to take over the lead and hold a 30-25 advantage heading into the locker room.
 
The Vikings used the third quarter to gain back on the Beavers, taking a 43-41 lead on a 3-point play by Ellie Braaten. Bemidji pulled away in the final quarter and went 11-for-13 on free throws down the stretch to secure the double figure win.
 
VCSU shot 36 percent from the field (20-56), 30 percent on 3's (6-20) and 85 percent on free throws (11-13) Tuesday. Bemidji shot 38 percent on field goals (21-55), 18 percent on 3-pointers (2-11) and 77 percent from the free throw line (23-30).
 
VCSU and BSU each scored 19 bench points and nine fast break points Tuesday, but the Beavers tallied 36 paint points to VCSU's 20. The Vikings totaled 20 turnovers while the Beavers recorded just eight.
 
Ellie Braaten scored eight points and dished three assists while Diemert and Elyse Hebrink each scored six points. Hebrink and Hailey Roberts each grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU hosts Jamestown for a doubleheader on Saturday, Dec. 30. The women's game tips at 2 p.m. and the men will follow at 4 p.m.