MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team opened its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) season with UW-Superior on Friday night and dropped the contest by a score of 79-64. With the loss the Vikings fall to 1-6 on the season and 0-1 in the UMAC while Superior moves to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference.


 
Both teams got off to a slow start in this one, with neither able to find their stride in the first quarter. Superior would slowly push out to a first quarter lead that they would extend to 12-8 after 10 minutes of play. The game started to heat up in the second frame, with the visitors extending their lead to 21-12 before Skylar Cotten started to get going for the Vikings. A pair of and-one's from Cotten to go along with two three pointers helped the home team take a 32-31 lead with under two minutes remaining in the half. Tied at 34 with time winding down, Cotten would drill another three to give Bethany a 37-34 lead headed to the break.
 
In the third quarter, the Vikings would push their lead to seven points before the Yellowjackets started a run. The visitors outscored Bethany 19-5 over the last 6:16 to take a 55-48 lead after three quarters of play. Superior would continue their offensive efficiency in the fourth quarter as they started on a 10-2 run to lead 65-50 with six minutes remaining. The Vikings would start to end the dry spell offensively, scoring on four of six possessions, but Superior would get a few layups and free throws to maintain the margin. After UWS pushed their lead to 16 with under two minutes to play, the Vikings would fight to stay in it but couldn't overcome the deficit as Superior held onto the victory.
 
Cotten led the Vikings in this one with 17 points, while Sara Kottke added 15 points. Bethany was able to sink 20-of-29 free throws in this one but Superior was also efficient from the line, shooting 26-of-33.

The Vikings will be back in action tomorrow for a 4:45 p.m. matchup with Northland.