Box Score NEW ULM, Minn. --- It was a promising start for Bethany in the UMAC women's basketball opener at Martin Luther Saturday, but a late first half run by the Knights did in the Vikings as they dropped the conference opener 77-65.

Aimie Wiechmann hit a layup and connected on a jumper 17 seconds apart to give Bethany its biggest lead of the game at 10-4 three and a half minutes in. The Knights fought back to take an 18-17 lead. Jade Pelzl then drained a 3 to get the lead back for BLC at 20-18 with 9:01 left in the first. The two teams then exchanged baskets before Martin Luther ended the first half on a 17-0 run over the final six minutes of the half to take a 45-26 lead into halftime.

Wiechmann was the leading scorer for Bethany with 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting. Allie Van Hee came off the bench to add 12 and Pelzl scored 11.

Bethany (3-9, 0-1 in UMAC) returns home after their five-game road trip to take on North Central in the conference home opener Friday at 7:30 p.m.