MORRIS, Minn. - Trailing by 19 points in the third quarter Wednesday, the Bethany Lutheran women's basketball team would mount a late comeback effort but it came up just short as they fell to Minnesota Morris 62-59. With the loss the Vikings fall to 10-14 overall and 9-4 in the UMAC while the Cougars move to 11-13 overall and 9-4 in conference play. 

After Lexiss Trygg would score twice in the first two minutes to put Bethany up 4-2, the two teams would trade buckets over the next few minutes before they were even at 10 apiece midway through the quarter. Morris would end the quarter on a high note though, as they would finish the frame 6-of-11 from the field and on a 14-4 run as they lead 24-14 after one. 

The Cougars would continue adding to their lead early in the second as they pushed it out at 14 at 30-16 before Gianna Klarenbeek put home a three to end the dry spell. The Vikings wouldn't carry momentum from the Klarenbeek bucket though, as Morris would score the next seven to take a 37-19 lead. Klarenbeek and Aubrea Kor would answer with layups inside on consecutive possessions to bring it to 14 before a Morris free throw made it a 15 point game at the half. 

After Bethany quickly trimmed the lead to 12 early in the third, Morris would answer with seven straight to go up 19 at 46-27. Needing an answer, Bethany would attack the hoop and find their way to the line on three straight possessions and went 100 percent from the stripe to make it a 13-point game before Kor would knock down a three to cut it to 10 with three minutes left. UMM would get it back up to 13 late but a pair of Bethany baskets to end the quarter made it 51-42 headed to the fourth. 

Just as quickly as the Vikings gained momentum, they lost it to begin the fourth as Morris would score the quarter's first six points. Over the next four minutes though, Bethany would hold the Cougars scoreless and add three baskets inside to make it a nine point game once again. Minnesota Morris would get the next bucket to go back up 11, but the Vikings would score the next seven with five coming from Klarenbeek to trail by just four with 1:37 to go.

After a few scoreless possessions from both teams, Arinn McGee would finish strong with her left hand inside to make it just a two point game with 30 seconds left. After UMM would convert on just one of their two free throws to hold just a three point lead with 20 seconds left, McGee would get a great look inside on a post most, but her shot would rattle out and UMM would secure the rebound and ice the game late with a pair of free throws to secure the win. 

Kor finished with a team-high 17 points in the contest while also adding five steals. Klarenbeek would tally 12 points while McGee would score six and add a team-best 10 rebounds.

Bethany will be back in action on Saturday as they conclude their regular season slate with a contest against North Central beginning at 4:45 p.m.