SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team led for nearly 30 minutes of Friday night's contest, but a fourth quarter push from UW-Superior would hand them a 74-70 defeat. With the loss the Vikings fall to 3-14 overall and 3-3 in the UMAC while the Yellowjackets move to 9-8 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The Vikings set the tone in the first half of this one, as they came out on fire from beyond the arc. They went 3-of-6 from downtown in the first quarter as they climbed out to an 18-15 lead after 10 minutes of play.

In the second frame things would play fairly even early before Gianna Klarenbeek's third three pointer of the contest but the Vikings up 28-23. Superior would answer with a bucket before Kaylee Hunter spurned a 12-5 Viking run to end the half with a pair of shots from long range as the Vikings led 40-30 at the break. The visitors shot a blazing 7-of-11 from downtown in the first 20 minutes with Hunter and Klarenbeek each connecting on three.

UWS would quickly cut into the lead in the third, as they came out with a 9-3 run to bring the deficit to four points. Bethany would respond to the run with one of their own, scoring six straight points to push the lead back to 10 before the two teams played even the final few minutes with the Vikings leading 56-47 after three.

After Bethany scored the first two points of the fourth to go up 11, the Yellowjackets would score the next six points to bring the lead to five. Things would play even for the next few minutes before a three pointer with five minutes left from Superior to cut the deficit to one point. After an empty possession from the Vikings, UWS would take advantage and take their first lead since the late first quarter at 66-65, but Klarenbeek would answer with a mid-range jump shot to re-take the lead.

Unfortunately for Bethany, they just couldn't get a shot to fall late. A few layups inside would clang around the rim over the next three minutes as UWS would score five points in the process to take a 71-67 lead. The Vikings would get a free throw to make the game one possession, but they couldn't capitalize as a pair of turnovers put the Yellowjackets at the line late where they would ice the game for the four point win.

Aubrea Kor led the Vikings with 18 points in the contest to go along with five rebounds and five assists while Klarenbeek added 17 points nad five boards. Hunter added 11 off the bench while Ashanti Boykin played a great all-around game as well, notching five points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals while not committing a turnover.  

Bethany will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they take on Northland at 3 p.m.