MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team dished out 25 assists on Saturday afternoon to secure a 72-64 win over Crown. With the win the Vikings improve to 5-13 overall and 3-4 in the UMAC while the Polars fall to  10-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

The Vikings came out of the gates firing in this one as Sara Kottke buried three shots from beyond the arc in the first four minutes to push them to a 13-4 lead. The rest of the first quarter stayed in favor of the home team, as they shot 10-of-16 in the frame to take a 25-16 lead after one.

Ashanti Boykin got the scoring started in the second before Ashley Schindele started to catch fire, hitting a pair of triples of her own to give Bethany a 34-19 lead with 6:38 left in the quarter. Another Schindele three at the 3:33 mark gave Bethany a 43-25 lead, which proved to be their largest lead of the game. The Polars would inch back into it late in the quarter, making a handful of free throws late to cut the deficit to 14 at the half.

The third quarter favored Crown, as the visitors outscored the Vikings 19-12 in the frame and they were able to cut the deficit to 57-50 heading into the final quarter. They would continue to cut into the lead in the fourth trimming the lead to 59-56 with 6:29 to play. Kaylee Hunter would then convert a three-point play with an and-one before Ashanti Boykin buried a triple a few possessions late to put the Vikings back up by nine. Crown would get the deficit to eight with 4:16 left, but a Kottke three all but sealed the deal as Bethany held on for the win.

Schindele led the Vikings with 24 points and six rebounds in the contest thanks in part to 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. The 25 assist effort was led by Sara Kottke who tallied 11 dimes, to go along with her 13 points.

Bethany is back in action next Saturday when they host MLC for a 4:45 p.m. contest.