MITCHELL, S.D. – Ellie Braaten knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored 29 points Saturday as the Valley City State women's basketball team battled No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan before falling 73-65 at the Corn Palace.
The Vikings led 34-32 at halftime and remained within four points with just over two minutes remaining, but the Tigers held off VCSU down the stretch. Valley City State moves to 0-2 overall, while Dakota Wesleyan improves to 2-0.
Braaten shot 9-for-16 from the field, including 8-for-14 from beyond the arc, while adding five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Liz Lukken finished with 13 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the floor and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.
VCSU found its rhythm early, getting seven first-quarter points from Lukken and a pair of 3-pointers from Braaten to take a 20-19 lead after the opening period. Lukken and Braaten each added six points in the second quarter as the Vikings carried a two-point advantage into halftime.
Braaten opened the second-half scoring for VCSU with another triple, putting the Vikings ahead 37-34. Dakota Wesleyan responded with nine straight points, but VCSU answered again. Braaten's 3-pointer tied the game at 47 with 3:36 remaining in the third quarter, and Cassidy Shute connected from deep to give the Vikings a 50-49 lead with 2:26 left.
The Tigers scored the final five points of the quarter to move ahead 54-50 entering the fourth.
VCSU continued to keep the game within reach. Tiyana Schwinghammer converted a three-point play, and Braaten followed with her eighth triple to bring the Vikings within 61-58 with 7:10 remaining. Two Braaten free throws later cut the deficit to 66-62 with 2:03 to play, but Dakota Wesleyan scored the next five points to create separation.
Schwinghammer finished with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Shute added eight points and two 3-pointers, while Delaney Cotton collected four rebounds and two assists.
The Vikings shot 42.9 percent from the field, made 11 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and went 12-for-15 at the free-throw line. Dakota Wesleyan shot 54.2 percent overall and held a 30-16 rebounding advantage.
Skyler Volmer led the Tigers with 17 points. Emma Yost added 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Avery Broughton finished with 11 points.
UP NEXT
Valley City State returns to W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse for its home opener Tuesday, Nov. 3, hosting the University of Minnesota Morris at 5 p.m.
