VCSU men/women fall at NAIA tournaments

Valley City State University held tough against Indiana Southeast in the opening round of the NAIA men’s national basketball tournament in Point Lookout, Mo., on Wednesday.

But the Vikings’ season came to a close at 21-9 overall with a 75-72 loss to the tournament’s No. 11 seed.

VCSU’s Sekani Milligen tossed in a game-high 23 points. The Grenadiers’ Kegan Clark led four players in double figures with 17.

On the women’s side, Wednesday’s first round in Sioux City, Iowa also spelled the end of the road for Valley City State, as well as Mayville State. For the Vikings (24-8), it was the third year in a row they exited in the opening round, falling to Bethel (Ind.) 79-63.

Laura Johnson, the Crossroads League Player of the Year, drilled four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points for Bethel (26-7). Brittany Lehner led the Vikings with 16 points.

Bethel shot a blistering 52 percent from the floor and forced Valley City State into 23 turnovers.

The Mayville State Comets (20-6) were upended by three-time defending national champion Northwestern (Iowa) 92-66, who were led by forward Kendra De Jong’s 16 points and 10 rebounds, and a game-high 18 points from guard Alli Dunkelberger.

The Red Raiders (24-7) had five players score in double figures, and they outrebounded the Comets by a whopping 61-38. Mayville State was held to 29 percent shooting (10-for-69) from the field, and was led by Hailey Longtin in scoring with 17.

The Jamestown College men play today at noon against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.), while the Jimmie women tip off at 1:45 p.m. against Menlo (Calif.).

— Sun Staff

Tags: college sports, sports, basketball