Valley City, ND (VCSU) Katie Johnson’s career-high 18 points led 4 Vikings in double figure scoring as the VCSU women’s basketball team won its home opener 77-62 over the University of Minnesota-Morris Wednesday night.
 
Johnson posted 14 of her 18 points in the third quarter to help the Vikings pull away late in the game. VCSU led by as much as 25 points on a basket from Madison Spacher in the fourth quarter en route to the home win.
 
VCSU improves to a 1-1 record on the season. Wednesday’s contest was an exhibition game for NCAA Div. III Minnesota-Morris.
 
The Viking women opened with a 22-10 lead after the first 10 minutes of Wednesday’s game, shooting 62 percent from the field in the first quarter helped by a pair of 3-pointers from Ellie Braaten.
 
VCSU held a 36-26 lead at halftime, but the Cougars opened the second half with six straight points to get within four. Over the next 4 and a half minutes, the Vikings outscored the Cougars 21-8 including three 3’s from Ashlyn Diemert and two from Johnson.
 
The Vikings led by as much as 25 points on Spacher’s basket early in the fourth quarter and held on to secure the home-opening victory.
 
VCSU shot 43 percent from the field (29-67), 39 percent on 3’s (13-33) and 75 percent on free throws (6-8). The Vikings held the rebounding advantage 38-30, and forced the Cougars into 27 turnovers.
 
Morris shot 49 percent from the field (22-45), 25 percent from beyond the arc (1-4) and 71 percent at the free throw line (17-24).
 
Adriana Torres scored 12 points for the Vikings while Diemert finished with 11 and Hailey Roberts added 10 to round out Vikings scoring in double figures. Ellie Powell pulled down a team-best nine rebounds, and Torres and Madison Wilhelmi added four assists each.
 
The Cougars were led by Grace Perry who finished with 18 points and Maddy Grove chipped in 14. Malory Anderson scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds Wednesday.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU plays a pair of non-conference games on the road this weekend. VCSU plays Mount Marty on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon. Women tip at 5 p.m. and men follow at 7 p.m. The Vikings then play at Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday at 3 p.m. with the men’s game at 5 p.m.