(Kelly Korsbeck) – Both MSU-Northern basketball teams fell to Valley City State University on Friday to open up the Sam Milanovich tournament in Dickinson.
In the women’s game, Northern pushed to hold a 34-24 halftime lead. However, a late third quarter 3 pointer from the Vikings shifted the momentum, and Valley City was able to hold Northern to 6 fourth quarter points to claim a 74-53 victory.
Canzas HisBadHorse headed up Skylight scoring with 12, and Emma Wass came off the bench to add 10.
The men then took to the court, where the contest stayed close through most of the first half of play. Valley City took a 10 point lead on an 8-0 run, but Northern battled back to trail by one at the half, 33-32.
The Vikings then moved to a 12-point advantage into the second half, leaving the Lights to once again fight and erase the deficit. Northern only managed to trim the lead to 4, before eventually dropping 68-60 at the final buzzer.
Cinque Maxwell anad Raefe McEnroe each put in 13 points for the top Lights scoring.
Tournament play will continue Saturday, as Northern faces Dickinson State, with Skylights vs the Lady Blue Hawks at 5pm, and a 7pm tipoff for the Lights & Blue Hawks.
