MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany women's basketball had its season ended abruptly in the UMAC semifinals Wednesday with a 73-64 upset loss to North Central. The Vikings finish the season 15-11 overall.
North Central gained the upper hand early, starting the game on a 14-3 run in the first five minutes. The Vikings came back as Juliana Ewald and Kaylee Hunter made a couple threes to cut the difference to five at the end of the first quarter.
Bethany scored the first four points of the second quarter to get within one point, but the Rams maintained the lead and eventually grew the difference to 10 points with 1:20 left in the half. The visitors led 36-29 at the break.
The Vikings took their first lead since the opening point of the game at the 6:29 mark of the third quarter following an and-one play by Kenadi Arndt. The lead went back on forth after a three by Hunter and the Vikings led by as much as four with 1:24 left in the third, but the Rams closed out the frame on a 5-1 run to tie the game at 49 after 30 minutes.
The lead changed sides three more times early in the fourth quarter, but a jumper with 3:43 on the clock gave the Rams the lead for good. With 22 seconds left in the game, North Central led by 10 and was able to put the game out of reach.
Bethany shot 39.3 percent from the floor and made just 6-of-24 from beyond the arc. Rebounds were even at 35 each. Arinn McGee led the Vikings with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Hunter added 13 points and four steals off the bench.
