Diemert scores 37 in Viking win over V-Hawks
VALLEY CITY – Valley City State's Ashlyn Diemert poured in a new career-high 37 points Friday night as the Vikings defeated Viterbo 86-70 at home.
Diemert was 11-for-16 from the field, 6-for-9 from 3-point range and 9-for-11 on free throws in the win. Her 37 points is just one point off the VCSU single-game scoring record set by Mallory Undlin in 2007.
VCSU improves to 11-12 overall and 5-4 in conference play. Viterbo drops to 9-11 overall and 4-5 in the North Star.
The Vikings shot a season-high 52 percent from the field Friday night (30-58), including 61 percent in the first quarter (11-18). VCSU held the V-Hawks scoreless over the first four and a half minutes of the second quarter to build a 38-23 advantage. A bucket by Viterbo's Madison Hugdahl snapped the scoring drought and Viterbo scored the final six points of the quarter to trail 49-42 at halftime.
Viterbo pulled back within a point at 53-52 on Emma Wagner's 3-pointer with 6:23 on the clock in the third quarter, but the Vikings responded with 11 straight points, including seven from Diemert, to build back a double figure lead. A final fast break layup from Hailey Roberts gave the Vikings a 67-53 lead after three quarters of play. The Vikings led by as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter on a Roberts free throw en route to the big home win.
In addition to shooting its season-high 52 percent on field goals Friday (30-58), VCSU finished the game shooting 37 percent from 3-point range (7-19) and 63 percent on free throws (19-30). Viterbo shot 39 percent from the field (27-69), 23 percent on 3's (8-35) and 53 percent from the free throw line (8-15).
VCSU scored 51 points in the paint and 20 points off turnovers Friday. The Vikings finished with 19 assists and just 12 turnovers while Viterbo totaled 16 assists and 13 turnovers.
VCSU's JayCee Richter finished with 15 points and Ellie Braaten scored 10 for the Vikings Friday. The pair each grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and Braaten dished a career-best nine assists in the game. Hailey Roberts added nine points and three steals for VCSU.
Viterbo's Emily McCurdy scored a team-high 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds Friday. Madison Hugdahl added 16 points and five assists for the V-Hawks.
UP NEXT: VCSU hosts Waldorf on Saturday in its regular season home finale. The basketball teams will recognize seniors Adriana Torres and Cleveland Bedgood during the conference doubleheader. The women tip at 3 p.m. followed by the men at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Bubble.