Box Score VALLEY CITY, N.D. – A cold stretch in the first half hurt the Cougars (2-7) on Friday night as the Valley City State Vikings (12-2) won 65-39. The Cougars had 13 points from Kayla Kramer and seven from Kendra Wycoff to lead the offense. The defense was led by Abby Fragodt who had four defense rebounds and a pair of blocks and steals.
 
It was a back and forth battle in the opening ten minutes of action as the game was tied at 13 with 9:48 left in the opening half. There were four ties and six lead changes in that ten minute span. The tie was broken on a just one of two three point baskets for the Vikings in the first half. VCSU built the lead up to 27-13 before Fragodt broke the scoreless streak with four minutes left in the half. Valley City State took the 34-16 lead into the half as they held the Cougars without a made basket for the final nine minutes of the first half.
 
Wycoff broke the drought immediately in the second half hitting a three pointer to cut the deficit to 34-19. Minnesota Morris cut the lead to 13 with ten minutes left in the game as Conner Lewis connected on a free throw. Unfortunately the Vikings responded with an 8-0 run to put the game away, going up 51-30 with over eight minutes left in the game.
 
The Vikings shot 42.4% on the night hitting 25-49 from the field as they held the Cougars to 24% on the night. Morris did hit six three pointers on the night and forced 19 turnovers. 

Minnesota Morris is back in action on Tuesday night as they host Crown at 5:30 p.m. in the UMAC Opener.