Vikings Sweep NSAA Womens Basketball Players of the Week

VCSU – Valley City State swept the North Star Athletic Associations twelfth edition of the Womens Basketball Players of the Week awards, the conference office announced Monday. Ashlyn Diemert was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Ellie Braaten was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Week.

North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Ashlyn Diemert – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’9″ – Senior – guard – West Fargo, N.D. – Diemert set three single-game school records as Valley City State defeated No. 24 ranked Jamestown 91-75, finishing the week with 1-1 record. She set the VCSU scoring record with 39 points (13-of-16 field goals) and sank 11 3-pointers in 11 attempts (100 percent) to best her own school record of eight 3-pointers last season. She is now the only Viking in school history to shoot 100 percent on 3-pointers in a game while making at least six. Diemert also scored 24 points in a narrow 65-63 setback at Dickinson State. For the week, Diemert averaged 31.5 points per game. She shot 22-of-36 from the field (61.1 percent) and 13-of-17 from the 3-point line (76.5 percent). She also made all six free throw attempts.

North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
Ellie Braaten – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’3″ – Sophomore – guard – Westhope, N.D. – Braaten helped Valley City State to a 1-1 record on the week, including a 91-75 upset victory at No. 24 Jamestown. She totaled five steals, 15 rebounds (14 defensive rebounds) and five steals for the week. She stole the ball four times and grabbed four defensive rebounds, despite a 65-63 defeat at Dickinson State. Braaten followed up with a career best 10 defensive rebounds and a steal in VCSU’s victory at UJ. 

Recap from last week’s games
Dakota State (S.D.), No. 6 in the latest edition of the NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, remained undefeated in the North Star Athletic Association play after a 69-66 road victory at Bellevue (Neb.).  It was both teams’ lone contest of the week on Jan. 17.  The Trojans ballooned their winning streak to 12 games, raising their overall record 14-3 and 6-0 NSAA conference record.  Bellevue dropped their fifth straight contest, falling to 10-8 overall record and 2-4 NSAA conference record.

Jamestown (N.D.), ranked No. 24 in the national poll, kicked off the week with an 81-70 home victory over (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) on Jan. 17.  The Jimmies fell to Valley City State 91-75 on Jan. 18 to complete a 1-1 record for the week.  UJ is 14-4 overall record and 4-3 record in the league.

Dickinson State (N.D.) made a game-winning basket at the buzzer to defeat VCSU 65-63 on Jan. 17.  The Comets defeated the Blue Hawks 69-46 on Jan. 18, completing a 1-1 record weekend for the Blue Hawks, Comets, and Vikings.  Mayville State is 14-5 overall record and 4-3 record in the conference.  Valley City State is 10-9 overall record, while Dickinson State is 7-11 overall record.  Both VCSU and DiSU are 2-5 record in the North Star contests.

Looking Ahead This Week
The North Star Athletic Association action continues Friday.  No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) hosts No. 24 Jamestown (N.D.) in the battle of NAIA’s Top 25 nationally ranked teams, while Bellevue (Neb.) welcomes Dickinson State (N.D.).  Valley City State (N.D.) remains on the road on the same day as they visit (RV) Mayville State (N.D.).

UJ and DiSU switch places on Saturday with DaSU and BU (DiSU at DaSU, UJ at BU).

Friday’s Games
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 5:30 p.m.
            (24) Jamestown (N.D.) @ (6) Dakota State (S.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.

            Saturday’s Games
            (24) Jamestown (N.D.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 3 p.m.
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ (6) Dakota State (S.D.) – 3 p.m.
                       
NSAA Women’s Basketball Conference Standings