BUTTE, MONT. – Valley City State had a tough time getting the offense going in the first quarter and Montana Tech took advantage on the way to a win over the Vikings in Frontier Conference Women's basketball Sunday in Butte, Montana.

Valley City is now 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Frontier Conference. The Orediggers are 6-1 in the conference and 10-1 overall.

Montana Tech scored the first ten points of the game to take the early lead. Valley City State did a great job on the defensive end, getting stops and holding the Orediggers to just 31 percent from the field. The Vikings found a lid on the basket on their end of the floor. A steal and layup by Ellie Braaten got the Vikings on the board, making the score 10-2 with 1:50 to go in the quarter. Montana Tech would lead after one quarter, 12-2.

It was more of the same in the second quarter. Montana Tech scored the first nine points of the second quarter. Live Wangerin scored on a layup to give the Orediggers their biggest lead of the half 21-2 with 8:01 to go in the first half. The Vikings got their first three-pointer of the game on their next possession when JayCee Richter knocked one down to make the score 21-5 with 7:49 to go in the quarter. The Vikings played better on the offensive end in the second quarter. But the Orediggers shot better as well and led 38-15 at halftime.

Montana tech would extend the lead to 29 points on a couple of occasions in the third quarter, despite the Vikings picking up the scoring pace in the quarter. The Orediggers led 44-15 early in the third. The held that lead again at 59-30 with 30 seconds to go in the quarter. Valley City State scored 17 points in the third quarter, more than doubling their halftime score. Ellie Powell, Liz Lukken and Braaten all had four points in the quarter.

The teams played even in the fourth quarter and the Orediggers came up with a 71-44 win to avenge their only loss of the season. The Vikings beat Montana tech 61-58 in Valley City on November 22^nd.

JayCee Richter led the Vikings with ten points and eight rebounds. Ellie Braaten scored eight points with five rebounds and two steals. Madison Spacher had seven points and five rebounds. Liz Lukken had six points and three steals while Tiyana Schwinghammer had five points and five rebounds.

Up Next: The Viking women are now off until January 2^nd when they host Montana State-Northern at the Bubble for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff.