VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Minot State University's women's basketball team couldn't put both ends of the court together for a discernable stretch.

The Beavers would get a couple of stops, only to miss opportunities on the offensive end. When MSU was good on the offensive end, they would give up points on D.

No. 21 ranked Valley City State had the answers as they held off Minot State 71-66 in the semifinals of the Dakota Athletic Conference postseason tournament Sunday at the Osmon Fieldhouse.

The Beavers (22-8) will have to wait until Wednesday for their fate as the NAIA conducts its selection show. The Vikings advance to the championship of the tournament against Jamestown College Tuesday night.

The up and down effect was in play in nearly every aspect of the game. MSU played solid defense most of the first half, but struggled to just 20 first half points. In the second, the Beavers scored 46 points, but gave up 43.

The Vikings (22-8) killed the Beavers with 3-pointers during a key stretch early in the second half. Caitlyn Wojahn and Kristin Bearstail combined for eight 3-pointers, five coming in the second half. Amanda Brown pushed VCSU's second-half lead to 11 points midway through the second half on a three-point play – the largest lead enjoyed by either team in the contest.

MSU got to within four points on a Kallie Erickson (Sr., G, Fordville, N.D.) 3-pointer with just over a minute to play, but the Beavers never got closer. The Vikings hit just enough free throws down the stretch to keep the comeback at bay.

The Vikings stopped the Beavers seven game winning streak and extended their own streak to seven games. The Beavers were hampered by turnovers in the game, coughing the ball up 21 times in the contest. MSU had 12 miscues in the first half.

VCSU had three players in double figures led by Wojahn's 18 points. She was 4 for 4 from the line, hit 4 of 6 3-pointers and added two assists. Bearstail scored 16 points and finished with three steals, while Mandi Bindas finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Sacarra Molina (So., G, Hinsdale, Mont.) scored 17 points, dished out seven assists, had four steals and pulled down three rebounds to pace the Beavers. Katie Hardy (Fr., F, Fairview, Mont.) was the only other MSU player in double figures with 10 points. Carly Boag (Fr., F, Tamworth, Australia) scored nine points and led the team with 10 rebounds.