MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team hosted Buena Vista on Saturday, with the visitors connecting on three free throws with .2 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime before taking the contest 83-82 in the extra frame. With the loss the Vikings fall to 1-2 overall on the year while the Beavers move to 1-2.
Bethany would cruise out of the gates in this one, connecting on four buckets inside in the just over two minutes to take an early 8-2 advantage. The Beavers would slowly work their way back into the contest and evened the game at 13 apiece before a pair of free throws gave them their first lead of the game at 15-13. BVU would go cold over the next two minutes with three points from
Gianna Klarenbeek putting Bethany up 16-15 but the Beavers would catch fire late, outscoring the Vikings 8-4 in the final 1:09 of the quarter to lead 23-20 after one.
The second quarter would get out to a slow start for both teams, with each scoring just 10 points in the first nine minutes of the frame.
Brea Mertz then found her groove for the Vikings knocking down a three pointer and a pair of free throws, before a buzzer beating layup from the freshman would put Bethany up 37-33 at the break.
The Vikings would open the third like they finished the second, as six different players would find the bottom of the net in the first three and a half minutes to spur a 14-2 run and would give them their biggest lead of the contest at 51-36. Bethany would put it in cruise over the next few minutes, keeping the Beavers at bay and holding the lead at 16 points with 1:30 to go in the quarter. BVU would get the jolt they needed though, connecting on three free throws and a layup inside to cut the deficit to 11 points headed to the fourth.
Aubrea Kor would finish inside to open the fourth before seven unanswered from the Beavers brought the Viking lead to six points at 62-56. Bethany would push their lead back to 11 points with 6:43 to play before consecutive threes from BVU brought it to five. With Bethany still holding a five point lead with a minute to go, the Beavers would finish inside with 45 seconds left to bring it to within three. The Vikings would split a pair of free throws to go back up by four before two made free throws from BVU cut things to two. Another pair of free throws split by the Vikings would give Buena Vista the ball with one last shot to tie the game. Bethany would play good defense and force a contested shot with time winding down, but a foul on the Vikings and all three free throws finding the bottom of the net from the Beavers would send the game to overtime.
Over a minute went by in the overtime before BVU opened the scoring with a layup inside. Kor would then split a pair of free throws before knocking down a pair on the next possession to put the Vikings up 79-78 with three minutes to go. Another set of free throws split from Bethany would put them up two. The Vikings would get a stop on the other end but a steal and layup for BVU would even things right back up at 80. After a Viking turnover, the Beavers would connect on a massive three pointer to take the 83-80 lead with under a minute to go. The Vikings would get fouled their next time down the floor but miss both chances from the charity stripe and still trailed by three with 45 seconds to play. They would play good defense and force a shot clock violation for a chance to tie the game on the games final possession, but the three pointer was missed and offensive rebound putback went in with no time on the clock for the 83-82 final.
Kor led the Vikings with 19 points while also adding seven rebounds to her ledger. Klarenbeek also had seven rebounds to go along with 12 points, while Mertz added 10.
As a team Bethany struggled from the free throw line, shooting 21-of-37 (56.8%) compared to 22-of-29 (75.9%) from the Beavers.
The Vikings will next be in action on Tuesday when they travel to UW-La Crosse for a 7 p.m. contest.
