MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team Saturday hosted Northwestern and came away with a huge win, taking down the Eagles 69-68. With the win the Vikings improve to 1-8 on the year and 1-1 in the UMAC while the Eagles fall to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The Vikings got off to a blazing hot start to the game, thanks largely in part to
Juliana Ewald who knocked down two threes in the early going to push the home team to an 11-4 lead. The two teams would then play even the remainder of the quarter, as the Vikings would hold a 21-13 lead after one.
After a scorching hot start to the game, Bethany would go cold in the second, being outscored 20-9 in the frame as Northwestern carried a 33-30 lead into the break. In the second quarter the Eagles would go 7-of-16 in the frame while the Vikings were 4-of-13.
Bethany would find their groove again to begin the third, as Ewald would score eight straight to open the frame and push the home team on an 8-2 run. The Eagles would score the next seven to take a 42-38 lead, before both teams would then once again go punch for punch with the Vikings would ending the frame on a 5-1 run to lead 50-47 headed to the fourth.
That three point lead would quickly evaporate in the fourth as the Eagles would hit three triples in the first two minutes to take a 56-54 lead. Both teams would then find the bottom of the net a few times to bring the score to 63-63 with 2:40 to go.
After over two minutes of scoreless basketball, the Vikings would have the ball with under a minute to go and
Aubrea Kor would drive and kick to
Kaylee Hunter who buried a corner three with just over 30 seconds to play. The Eagles would get a quick layup to bring the game back within one, but Ewald would convert on both free throws after getting fouled to push it back to three.
Bethany then stepped up defensively, forcing an errant three that was rebounded by
Amelia Walker. Walker would go to the line and hit one of two with a full court heave from UNW falling as time expired but it was for naught as the Vikings took the win.
Ewald led the Vikings with a huge effort in the contest, scoring 23 points in the matchup to go along with team-highs of seven rebounds and three assists.
Gianna Klarenbeek added 11 points for Bethany off the bench while Kor had nine.
The Vikings will next be in action on Thursday when they travel to UW-River Falls for a 7 p.m. contest.
