Jan. 3—VALLEY CITY, N.D. — The No. 24-ranked University of Jamestown women’s basketball team overcame a slow start on its way to a 72-54 win over Valley City State University on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Vikings’ W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.
The Vikings (8-7, 0-3) came out flying sprinting out to a 10-3 lead in the opening quarter. The Jimmies fought back and took their first lead at 13-12. After the team traded the lead back and forth the Jimmies’ Jailyn Martinson hit a three to push her team in front 16-14. Over the remainder of the first quarter, the Jimmies went on a 9-0 run to take a 25-14 lead into the second quarter. After the Jimmies started shooting the ball 1-5 and trailed 8-3, the Jimmies shot 7-for-8 over the remainder of the quarter.
The second quarter continued to be a big quarter for the visitors with the Jimmies (12-1, 2-0) taking a 34-21 lead and stretching it out to 43-30 by the break. After hitting the bucket to give her team the 34-21 lead, the Jimmies’ Kate Busek was assessed a technical foul. After the game, Jimmies head coach Thad Sankey declined to say why his junior received the foul but said that it was dealt with internally.
In the first half, the Jimmies shot 53% from the field and 48% from three. The Vikings shot 45% from the field and 11% from long-range in the opening half.
The Vikings were able to ring it closer early in the third quarter at 47-34 but the Jimmies punched back with a three to make it 60-36 and finished the quarter on a 13-8 run to take a 60-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Vikings continued to attempt to fight back into it bringing it closer at 62-50 but the Jimmies put the dagger into their opponent when Jayden Wiest hit a three to take a 72-52 lead with just over a minute to go in the game. In total, Wiest finished the day with nine points on 3-for-6 shooting.
The Jimmies are back in action at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, when they go to Mayville State University.
