MAYVILLE, ND – Just over a week after playing the Valley City State Vikings on their home turf, the Comets returned to the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse for a conference rivalry matchup against the Vikings. A 29-point fourth quarter by the Vikings wasn't quite enough, as Mayville State slid past Valley City State 72-70 in North Star Athletic Association action.

"We did not play a clean game tonight," Comets head coach Dennis Hutter said. "But, we found a way to win."

After Dani Schwanke got the Vikings on the board, freshman Jordan Zrust, who has had a hot hand as of late, sunk a three-pointer on a pass from Claire Blascziek. Moments later, Kylee Heurung extended the Comet lead to three points on a putback off her own offensive rebound.

Maara Nelson then tied it for the Vikings with 6:51 to go in a first quarter that saw the Comets and Vikings go back-and-forth. Emily Schafer gave the Vikings another lead less than 40 seconds later, one that only held for 12 seconds, when Zrust tied the game.

Later in the first quarter, Heurung extended the lead to seven points, as she drained a three-pointer on a pass from Cyan Hale.

Schwanke cut the lead, this time to four. But, Andrea Skillingstad answered right back, 20 seconds later to pull the Comets ahead by six points.

Mayville State was able to keep the Vikings at bay in the second quarter, answering nearly every time with a basket, taking a six-point lead into the halftime break.

The Comets were held scoreless for more than two minutes at the start of the third quarter, but as soon as they hit their stride, a  7-0 run ensued, capped off with a Heurung three-pointer again. Zrust and Taylor Shamp each had buckets to push the lead to nine for Mayville State.

Heurung hit another three to push the Comet lead to double-digits with under five-and-a-half to go in the third quarter. The Comets and Vikings went back-and-forth, with Mayville State hanging on to an eight-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the night.

A 7-0 run by the Vikings early in the fourth quarter made things interesting, as Adrianna Torres' bucket with 7:55 to go in regulation brought the Vikings to within a three-pointer. But, Nicole Bunting doubled that up with her own three-pointer, 10 seconds later.

As the Vikings kept creeping back, the Comets shut the door. At one time, Taryn Dieterle's free-throw with 5:02 left made it a four-point game, but Blascziek hit a timely three, extending the Comet lead back to seven. Then, with 3:43 left, Mackenzie Huber brought the lead to within three points, only to be answered nearly 15 seconds later by a Bunting three-pointer.

Heurung hit another timely three with just under two minutes left, giving Mayville State a huge seven-point lead. But, a three-point stretch, one on a free throw, by Huber cut the lead back to four points with just over a minute left. With 42 seconds left, Blascziek nailed a pair of free-throws, which appeared to be the dagger—or so one would think—as the Comets were up by five points.

Valley City State called a timeout, setting up a dramatic finish. Dani Schwanke took an Emily Schafer pass, draining a three-pointer with 31 seconds left, making it 71-68 with half a minute left in the contest.Torres fouled almost immediately on the inbounds—sending Hale to the line for a pair of crucial free-throws. Hale missed the first. Nailed the second. It was 72-68 with 29 seconds left.

Three missed two-pointers by Valley City State proved to be the clincher—as Torres hit a buzzer-beater, too late for the Vikings.

With the sweep of Dickinson State and Valley City State at home, the Comets remain undefeated at the Lewy Lee—11-0 after this weekend.

"We have to protect our home floor in our league," Hutter said. "I'm glad we were able to do that this weekend. Next weekend is a big weekend."
Two Comets finished with double-digits scoring—Heurung with 23, on five-of-10 shooting from behind the arc; and Zrust with 13, including four-of-five from the free-throw line.

The Comets improve to 8-0 in conference play, and 19-2 overall. They have now won 10 straight.

Bellevue will travel to the Lewy Lee on Friday night to take on the Comets, while Dakota State will travel to Mayville State on Saturday.

Friday night's women's game is set for 5:30 p.m., while the Saturday game is set to tip off at 3 p.m.