WAVERLY, Iowa - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team Friday night took on No. 2 Wartburg and fell by a score of 72-42. With the loss the Vikings fall to 1-4 on the season while the Knights move to 5-0.
Wartburg came into the season following an NCAA Final Four appearance last year and returned the majority of its lineup including three fifth years who started on last year's team. After a slow start from both teams offensively, the Knights would break open the scoring by taking a 3-0 lead three minutes in.
Megan Wegner would get the Vikings on the board with a three pointer to even the score before Wartburg would push out on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes.
Gianna Klarenbeek would then score inside to end the run, before five points to end the frame from the Knights made it 23-5 after one quarter.
Lexiss Trygg would finish inside for Bethany to open the scoring in the second, before Wartburg's press into half court zone defense continued to give the Vikings trouble. The Knights would go out on a 14-3 run over the next six minutes, forcing eight Bethany turnovers in the span to lead 37-10. The Vikings would find a little offense late with Klarenbeek and Trygg scoring but the Knights would take a 46-15 lead into the half.
The Vikings would get a few buckets early in the third quarter before Wartburg went on a run to lead 54-19 midway through the frame. Over the second half of the third quarter, the Knights would outscore Bethany 9-6 to lead 63-25 after three quarters of play.
After Wartburg would take a 68-28 lead just over two minutes into the fourth, Bethany would score six points in a row. to make it 68-34. The Knights would eventually get their lead to 72-36 before two Viking threes to end the contest brought the game to its final of 72-42.
11 different Bethany players scored in the contest with
Aubrea Kor leading the Vikings with seven points. Trygg and Klarenbeek each added six points for Bethany off the bench with Trygg adding a team-best five rebounds and Klarenbeek a team-high three assists.
The Vikings will next be in action on Tuesday when they travel to St. Olaf for a 5 p.m. contest.
