MADISON, S.D. – The NSAA top-seed Dakota State Trojans handed the Valley City State women's basketball team a 64-56 loss to end its season Saturday in the semifinal round of the postseason.
 
Dakota State held an edge throughout the game, but the Vikings would always find a way to come from behind. Over the final five minutes, the Trojans found an 11-2 run to hold off the Vikings and earn its spot in the NSAA Championship game. VCSU concludes its season with a 15-14 overall record and a 6-9 mark in the North Star. Dakota State improves to 23-4 on the season and holds a 14-1 NSAA record. The top-seeded Trojans will host No. 3-seed Jamestown on Tuesday for the NSAA Tournament Championship title.
 
VCSU held the lead early, until a Bria Wasmund 3-pointer gave the Trojans an 11-8 advantage. Dakota State built up an 18-11 advantage but VCSU's Ellie Braaten halted the Trojan run with a 3-pointer and Abby Aslesen added a bucket to trail 18-16 after the first 10 minutes of play.
 
Dakota State pulled away to lead by as much as 10 points in the second quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Olivia Backus and Ashlyn Diemert helped spark a Viking comeback run. Madison Spacher later hit a 3 to tie the game at 34-34 at halftime.
 
The game remained tight through the early third quarter, but a pair of Mackley 3's would help the Trojans lead 48-40 en route to a 53-47 lead at the end of the frame.
 
VCSU wasn't done though, opening the fourth quarter with seven straight points including five from JayCee Richter to give the Vikings a 54-53 edge. Dakota State found 3's from Lilli Mackley and Kenzi Simmons take back the lead, and Tabor Teel put the game out of reach with five straight points to give the Trojans a 64-54 advantage with 1:01 remaining and time would run out for a final Viking comeback.
 
VCSU shot 40 percent from the field (19-48), 50 percent from 3-point range (8-16) and 83 percent on free throws (10-12). Dakota State shot 36 percent on field goals (20-56), 31 percent on 3's (12-39) and 80 percent from the free throw line (12-15). VCSU held a 36-29 rebounding advantage while Dakota State led the charge on steals 15-8.
 
VCSU's Ashlyn Diemert recorded 22 points while going 4-for-6 on 3's Saturday. Abby Aslesen added 12 points and eight rebounds while JayCee Richter totaled 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Ellie Braaten dished a team-best five assists for the Vikings.
 
Dakota State was led by Teel who totaled 21 points while going 7-for-10 from the field and added five steals for the Trojans. Lilli Mackley added 12 points and five rebounds, and Cierra Watkins added four assists.