LA CROSSE, WIS. – The Valley City State women's basketball team dropped an overtime battle to Viterbo on the road Friday night, 84-80.
 
Three Vikings scored in double figures Friday and VCSU held a 35-25 halftime lead but Viterbo made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The V-Hawks went 6-for-8 from the field in the extra period to lock in the win and improve its record to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in the North Star. VCSU drops to 8-11 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
 
The Vikings and V-Hawks each scored 18 points in the opening frame, but Ashlyn Diemert and Hailey Roberts combined for all 17 of VCSU's second quarter points to build a 35-25 lead at halftime. Viterbo came back to tie the game 49-49 on a Marley Hughes 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter.
 
With the Vikings holding a 57-56 lead and 6:13 to go, VCSU went on a 10-2 run over the next 2 and a half minutes to build its biggest lead of the fourth quarter at 67-58. Viterbo closed the gap to 69-67 on a 3-pointer by Emma Wagner with 45 seconds left in regulation. The V-Hawks gained possessions by fouling, and Marley Hughes sank her fourth 3-pointer to tie the game at 72-72 and force overtime.
 
The NSAA teams went back-and-forth in the extra frame until the final minute when Viterbo made a pair of defensive stops and pulled ahead on a pair of layups by Emily McCurdy to win the game, 84-80.
 
VCSU shot 43 percent from the field (30-70), 29 percent on 3's (7-24) and 52 percent from the free throw line (13-25). Viterbo shot 44 percent on field goals (32-72), 41 percent from 3-point range (9-22) and 65 percent from the charity stripe (11-17).
 
VCSU totaled 26 points off turnovers and 22 fast break points Friday. Viterbo held a narrow 42-41 rebounding advantage, and led the Vikings in second chance points 22-21.
 
Ashlyn Diemert led all players with 23 points – including four 3's – while JayCee Richter added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Hailey Roberts totaled 17 points and six steals and Adriana Torres added five steals for VCSU. Madison Wilhelmi dished five assists for the Vikings, and Ellie Braaten contributed four.
 
Viterbo had three players score in double figures, led by McCurdy who scored 22 points Friday. Pearla Teko-Folly added 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, and Hughes went 4-for-4 on 3-pointers for the V-Hawks.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU travels to Waldorf for another conference doubleheader on Saturday. The women's game is slated for 3 p.m. followed by the men at 5 p.m.