VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Bemidji State used a 16-6 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from Valley City State on the way to an 81-68 win over the Vikings at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse Friday night.

The first quarter was the Ellie Braaten Show as the junior hit three three-pointers as part of a 13-4 run by the Vikings. Her second three-pointer gave the Vikings an 8-7 lead. The lead would reach six points when Ellie Powell scored on a put back to make it 15-9 Vikings with. The Beavers would battle back and cut the lead to two just before the end of the quarter when Gabby Fineday knocked down a three-pointer to make it 19-17 VCSU after one quarter.

The Beaver scored the first six points of the second quarter to take the lead. Two free throws by Kassandra Caron gave Bemidji State a 23-19 lead. Caron gave the Beavers the lead with a driving bucket inside to make it 21-19 Bemidji state 90 seconds into the second quarter. Two free throws by Tiyana Schwinghammer cut the lead to 26-23 BSU. The Beavers then went on a 10-3 run to take a ten-point lead. A basket inside by Sam Veto made it 36-26 Bemidji State. But an 8-0 run by VCSU cut the lead back down to two. Braaten scored four straight points to cap the run. Two free throws by Braaten made it 36-34 Beavers. But a basket inside by Caron made the halftime score 38-34.

The Vikings would start the third quarter on a 11-6 run to take a one-point lead. A basket by Abby Aslesen tied the game at 44-44, then a free throw by Aubrey Prunty gave the Vikings the lead 45-44. Their first lead since the end of the first quarter. Bemidji State would regain the lead with an 8-0 run. Caron would score in the paint to make it 52-45 Beavers. The lead would stay between five and eight points the rest of the quarter with the Beavers sup 61-55 heading into the final ten minutes.

A Braaten basket early in the fourth quarter would cut the lead to 61-60. A basket by Ashlynn Guenther would start the Beavers on a 16-4 game deciding run. Veto scored inside to make it 73-62 Bemidji State. The lead would reach a baker's dozen when Evyn Eppinga would score inside to make it 77-64. The two teams would split the last eight points to make the final 81-68.

Ellie Braaten led the Vikings with 20 points. Braaten would add six rebounds and three assists. Abby Aslesen had twelve points and six rebounds while Tiyana Schwinghammer scored six points and added ten rebounds. Olivia Backus had nine points and Liz Lukken added five.

UP NEXT: The Vikings open Frontier Conference play next Wednesday when they head to Mayville for a date with the Comets. Women are scheduled to tipoff at 5:00 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:00 p.m.