FOREST CITY, IOWA – Valley City State junior Ashlyn Diemert led all scorers Saturday with 28 points to help the Vikings defeat Waldorf on the road, 73-55.
 
The Vikings never trailed in Saturday’s game and shot 61 percent in the first quarter to build a strong lead they’d hold on to the rest of the way. VCSU improves to 9-11 overall and 3-3 in conference play while Waldorf drops to 5-14 overall and 0-6 in the NSAA.
 
After a strong start Saturday, VCSU used a 17-5 run in the second quarter, capped by an Ellie Braaten 3-pointer, to earn its biggest lead of the game en route to a 47-30 halftime advantage.
 
Waldorf closed the gap to 11 points at 54-43 on a layup from Edosa Ogbemudia with 2:03 to go in the third quarter but VCSU finished with seven straight points, including five from Diemert, to build its lead back up. The Vikings held on through the fourth quarter to secure the 18-point road win Saturday.
 
VCSU shot 37 percent from the field (26-70), 32 percent from 3-point range (8-25) and 93 percent on free throws (13-14). Waldorf shot 31 percent on field goals (22-72), 20 percent on 3-pointers (4-20) and 78 percent from the line (7-9).
 
Diemert continues her hot streak in conference play, now averaging 25.2 points per game in 2024 – including 28 points on Saturday. She also grabbed five steals, three rebounds and dished three assists for the Vikings.
 
JayCee Richter totaled 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots Saturday. Hailey Roberts and Ellie Powell each finished with eight points while Adriana Torres and Ellie Braaten each scored six. Elyse Hebrink pulled down a team-high nine rebounds for VCSU.
 
Waldorf’s Ogbemudia finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal while Brooke Dial added 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal for the Warriors.
 
UP NEXT: VCSU hosts Dickinson State on Wednesday for a conference doubleheader. The women tip at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m. at the Bubble.