MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team held a 16-point halftime lead and would hold off a late North Central comeback to claim a 65-53 win Saturday afternoon and claim their fourth straight victory. With the win the Vikings improve to 5-12 overall and 4-2 in the UMAC while the Rams fall to 3-14 overall and 2-4 in the conference. 

The Rams got the upper hand early in this one as they would scamper out to a 7-6 lead in the game's first six minutes. Megan Wegner would then connect from deep to start an 8-0 run that was capped off by a Juliana Ewald three pointer. After the seven early points from NCU, the Vikings would hold them scoreless the last four minutes of the first and Amelia Walker would put one in from downtown with 57 seconds left as Bethany led 17-7 after one. 

The hot streak continued in the early stages of the second for the Vikings as they would continue their run with an 8-3 advantage in the first 1:34 of the frame with Ewald forcing a Rams timeout with her second three of the contest. NCU would pull the lead back to 10 points three minutes later with a 7-2 run, but eight straight from Bethany would move them up 18 at 35-17. The two teams would then trade buckets late, with North Central connecting on a free throw with time winding down to make the score 37-21 at the halftime break. 

NCU would get three baskets inside in the first two minutes of the second half to cut the lead down to 10 points, but Ewald would answer with another triple. The Rams would continue their run though as they would score 10 of the next 12 to cut the lead to just five points at 42-37. Each team would notch two more points in the next minute, before six straight in the final 1:22 from the Vikings made it 50-39 headed to the fourth. 

Each team would get an early bucket in the fourth quarter before another timely three pointer from Wegner put Bethany back up 14 with seven minutes to play. NCU would work the deficit back to 10 points with just under four minutes to go, but the Vikings would put them away late with some timely free throws and a bucket inside by Wegner to close the door. 

Wegner had a big day for Bethany with her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 boards while Ewald posted 17 points to lead the Vikings. Arinn McGee also posted a solid all-around effort, as she had eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists while also adding a block and a steal.

The Vikings will next be in action on Wednesday when they host Minnesota Morris in a 7:15 p.m. contest.