DICKINSON – The Valley City State women's basketball team couldn't hold onto its lead as a fourth quarter surge helped Dickinson State earn a 69-64 victory over VCSU Thursday night in Dickinson.
 
Dickinson State outscored VCSU 22-10 in the final quarter to come from behind late in Thursday's game. VCSU finishes the regular season with a 14-13 record overall and a 7-7 record in conference play. Dickinson State finishes the regular season at 12-16 overall and 7-7 in the conference. Dickinson owns the tiebreaker and secures the No. 4 seed for the NSAA Tournament while VCSU will be the No. 5 seed. VCSU will travel back to Dickinson for the opening round of the NSAA postseason on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central Time.
 
The score remained close throughout the game as neither team was able to gain a double figure lead. VCSU's Ashlyn Diemert scored 13 points in the first quarter to help VCSU to an early 21-17 lead, and the Vikings held a 35-34 advantage at halftime.
 
With the Vikings leading 54-47 heading into the final quarter, Dickinson opened with 10 straight points, including seven by Lindsay Peterson to help the Blue Hawks take over the lead at 57-54. Late free throws widened the gap in the Blue Hawks' favor to as much as eight points, but VCSU was able to get within four points twice – first on a putback layup by Taryn Dieterle and again on a jumper by Hailey Roberts with 1:18 to go. The Vikings could not find a way to regain the lead but will have a chance at Dickinson State again on Tuesday in the opening round of the postseason.
 
Diemert continues to pace the Vikings and has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games. Diemert finished Thursday's game with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Hailey Roberts chipped in three 3's and 17 points while adding two steals for VCSU.
 
Taryn Dieterle finished with her fourth double double of the season, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
 
VCSU shot 40 percent from the field Thursday (23-58), 35 percent on 3's (6-17) and 71 percent from the free throw line (12-17). Dickinson shot 42 percent on field goals (25-60), 42 percent from 3-point range (8-19) and 69 percent on free throws (11-16).
 
The Vikings and Blue Hawks were deadlocked with 37 rebounds apiece and each team tallied nine offensive boards. Dickinson State finished with 34 bench points and 17 assists to VCSU's 13 bench points and seven assists.
 
Lindsay Peterson led Dickinson State with 20 points and eight rebounds while Heather LaBree added 10 points off the bench. McKenzie Johnnson chipped in nine points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Blue Hawks.
 
UP NEXT: The VCSU women travel back to Dickinson State for the opening round of the NSAA Tournament. The game will tip at 6:30 p.m. CT.