In a tightly contested NAIA women's basketball matchup on Saturday evening, Valley City State held off a late surge from Montana State University-Northern to secure a 78–74 victory at the Skylights' home gym.

Valley City State jumped out to a strong start, building an early advantage with balanced scoring and efficient shooting. The Vikings closed the first quarter up 26–20 and carried momentum through the middle stages of the game, thanks in large part to a trio of standout performances.

Senior JayCee Richter led all scorers with a game-high 24 points, showcasing her scoring versatility both inside and beyond the arc. Teammate Ellie Braaten added 15 points, including timely three-pointers that helped keep the Vikings in control. Reserve Olivia Backus provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, contributing valuable depth in key stretches.

Despite trailing for much of the contest, the Skylights refused to go quietly. Becky Melcher and Taya Trottier each scored 16 points to anchor the Skylights' offensive push. With relentless effort on both ends, the Skylights chipped away at the deficit, trimming the gap in the second half and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

The final quarter saw Northern close within reach, but Valley City State managed to answer every challenge. Key free throws and clutch baskets down the stretch allowed the Vikings to maintain a sliver of separation, ultimately sealing the four-point win.

Both teams shot well in the contest, with Valley City State hitting nearly 50 percent from the field and Northern converting over 93 percent of their free throws. Defensive intensity and timely scoring runs highlighted an entertaining back-and-forth battle that kept fans engaged until the final whistle.

The Skylights fall to 16-7 overall and 12-6 in Conference. The Skylights will be on the road next week against two ranked teams Rocky and Carroll.