ST. PETER, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team returned to action on Monday night when they took on No. 7 Gustavus in nonconference action and they fell to the Gusties 89-46. With the loss the Vikings 1-10 on the season while Gustavus moves to 10-0. 

Gustavus would score the first five points of the contest before three free throws from Juliana Ewald put the Vikings on the board. The Gusties would then show their strength over the next four minutes, going on a 13-4 run before Ewald knocked down a triple to cut the deficit to 18-10. Four straight from Gustavus put them back up double digits and two late buckets from Ewald would match two more late baskets from the Gusties as the score would be at 26-14 after one quarter. 

The Vikings would struggle from the field in the second, as would be outscored by the Gusties 17-6 in the frame. Bethany would hold Gustavus to just 7-of-19 shooting in the quarter but would shoot just 2-of-10 themselves as the home team would hold a 43-20 lead at the half.

Gustavus would get out of the gates quickly again in the third, as they would go on a 15-2 run in the first 5:41. Bethany would respond to the Gusties run with one of their own as they would score nine straight, with Aubrea Kor scoring the last four to make the score 58-31. Over the final 1:30 of the quarter, Gustavus would outscore the Vikings 8-3 to lead 66-34 after three.

Ewald would knock down triples on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth, but the Vikings couldn't muster a comeback as the Gusties would close it out 89-46. 

Ewald finished with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the contest while also adding two rebounds and a steal. Kor added six for Bethany to go along with five rebounds and a steal. 

The Vikings will be back in action on Wednesday, January 8th when they open up UMAC play with a 7:15 contest at Northwestern.