The Valley City State women's basketball team dropped a close matchup to No. 6 Dakota State University Sunday. VCSU led by as much as 15 points early in the third quarter but the nationally ranked Trojans came from behind to defeat the Vikings 67-61.
 
Dakota State slowly inched closer in the second half and took back the lead on a 3-pointer from Bria Wasmund with 1:50 remaining. Wasmund scored an additional five points down the stretch to help the Trojans hold on for the home victory.
 
VCSU drops to 8-6 on the season and 0-2 in conference play. Dakota State improves its record to 8-3 overall and 2-0 in the North Star.
 
The Vikings opened the game with an early 13-8 advantage with the help of five points from Ashlyn Diemert. VCSU outscored the Trojans 21-13 in the second quarter, including six points from Tilda Mauritzson, to expand its lead to 34-23 halftime.
 
Coming out of the break, VCSU took its largest lead of the game at 38-23 on a bucket by Abby Aslesen with 8:11 on the clock. From there, Dakota State chipped away at the Viking lead and took an 11-0 run to finish the frame trailing just 43-40.
 
The Vikings held strong early in the fourth quarter, maintaining a 56-48 lead on a JayCee Richter bucket with 5:19 to go. Dakota State later went on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 59-59 and took the lead on a 3-pointer from Wasmund with 1:50 remaining. Wasmund sank another 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to ice the win.
 
VCSU shot 42 percent from the field (23-55), 38 percent on 3's (3-8) and 71 percent on free throws (12-17). Dakota State shot 40 percent on field goals (22-69), 25 percent on 3-pointers (11-44) and 100 percent on free throws (12-12).
 
Dakota State held a 43-38 rebounding edge, including 18 offensive boards. The Trojans also posted 19 assists and 12 turnovers while VCSU totaled 19 assists and 14 turnovers.
 
VCSU's Abby Aslesen led all players with 22 points Sunday while Diemert scored 13 and Richter added 11. Ellie Braated dished a team-high five assists and Olivia Backus added four. Aslesen, Braaten and Elyse Hebrink each pulled down seven rebounds for the Vikings.
 
Dakota State was led by Tia Murray who scored 18 points while shooting 7-for-10 from the field. Kenzi Simmons added four 3's for 12 points while Wasmund and Angela Slattery each scored 11. Slattery grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and Cierra Watkins added three steals Sunday.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU will continue conference play in the new year, hosting Jamestown on Friday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m.