MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team hosted UW-Superior on Saturday afternoon, and the Yellowjackets would knock down the game-winning shot with just two seconds remaining to claim the win 64-63. With the loss the Vikings fall to 1-12 on the season and 0-2 in the UMAC, while the UWS moves to 6-7 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
The first quarter set the stage for what would be a great matchup, as the two teams traded punches early. Bethany would open the game at a 6-2 advantage with three different Vikings scoring during the stretch. UWS would answer with eight straight points, but a 6-0 run from Bethany capped off by a
Juliana Ewald three would give them a 12-10 edge. The Yellowjackets would score to even things at 12 apiece, and the two squads would then trade buckets down the home stretch with UWS striking last for a 18-16 lead after one.
Quarter number two once again played back and forth, with neither team able to pull away during the frame. UWS would take a three point lead at 22-19 with 6:30 to play, but a
Gianna Klarenbeek free throw followed by an
Aubrea Kor three would make it 23-22 in favor of Bethany. After over a minute and a half of scoreless play, Bethany would get a bucket inside before an and-one from UWS re-evened the score at 25. Each team would put two more points on the board before Ewald scored five in a row for the home team to put them up 32-27 with two to go. A Kor free throw would push their lead to six, but back-to-back jumpers from Superior's Elise Besonen including a tough shot at the buzzer would pull the deficit to 33-31 at the break.
The third quarter proved to be both team's worst quarter from the field, as both squads held their opposition below 25 percent from the floor in a frame that saw Bethany outscore UWS 9-8. Bethany pushed their lead as high as five points with two minutes to play in the quarter, but a pair of late Superior free throws made it a one possession game headed to the fourth.
Each team's offense was firing on all cylinders in the fourth as they each posted their highest FG percentage of the contest in the frame and also scored their most points.
Kaylee Hunter would kick the scoring off the in the frame with layup, and her free throw with 7:25 to play would put Bethany ahead by six points at 48-42. UWS would then go on an 8-2 run after finding the bottom of the net on three straight possessions to even things up at 50 apiece with just over five to go.
Bethany would use four makes from the charity stripe against just one layup from UWS to take a 54-52 edge with 4:45 to play, but a Superior three pointer in response would give them their first lead since midway through the third quarter at 55-54. The Vikings would answer with two more free throws to go up one, before a Klarenbeek layup put them back on top by three with 3:30 to play. UWS once again would answer with another three to even the score, before baskets inside from each team brought the score to 60 apiece with just over a minute to go.
After a turnover from each team, the Yellowjackets would hold possession of the ball and draw a foul with just under a minute to go. They would connect on both shots to take a two point lead, but would foul Klarenbeek shooting a three on the ensuing possession for a chance to take the lead. The sophomore would step up in a big moment and knock down all three shots to give Bethany the lead with just 20 seconds to play and force a Superior timeout. The Vikings would play good defense in the possession but deja vu struck again, as Besonen would fire off a fadeaway mid range shot with time winding down on the clock and it would find the bottom of the net to put them up one with two seconds to go. The Vikings would get a shot off at the buzzer but it was off the mark as Superior would claim the win.
Kor and Ewald each had 12 points in the contest, with Kor added three steals and Ewald six rebounds and three assists. Lexiss Trygg also had a solid all-around game with eight points and team-high seven rebounds.
Bethany will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Crown College for a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
