MANKATO, Minn. — In the second-latest home opener in NCAA Division III women's basketball this season, the Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team (7-4 overall) fell 76-63 to UW-Stout (5-4) Saturday afternoon. Per the NCAA statistics page: Delaware Valley opened Dec. 16, Geneva and Principia also opened at home today along with BLC, and RIT won't play at home until Jan. 4.

The Vikings used a huge second quarter effort (20-9) to take the 37-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. Senior Hanna Geistfeld (Truman, Minn.) already had a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the first half alone.



The Blue Devils opened the first nine minutes of the third quarter on an 18-6 run to claim the lead at 47-43.

BLC cut it to four (50-46) early in the fourth quarter on a layup from Geistfeld, but UW-Stout answered with a 11-1 run over the next four minutes to push the advantage to double digits once more.

Geistfeld finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Junior Tara Christensen (South Sioux City, Neb.) joined her in double figures with 15 points off the bench.

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The Vikings take to the road for the next three games and will open competition in Loras' Tournament Wednesday, Dec. 29 against host-Loras at 4 p.m.