The 2012-13 season is shaping up to be something special.  Utilizing a fast break, balanced attack on offense and an aggressive, pressing defense, the Yellowjacket women's basketball team is off to its best start since the 1980-81 season.  Add in unprecedented depth, and the Yellowjackets have a recipe for success never before seen in these parts.

On Saturday afternoon, the Yellowjackets, who have several players still suffering from a bout of the flu, used the aforementioned depth to pick up their second win in less than 24 hours, leading from start to finish as they downed Bethany Lutheran College 78-63 in Mankato, Minn.

The win was the fourth straight for the Yellowjackets, putting them one victory away from tying the school record that they set last season.  And a huge part of the victory was the Yellowjacket bench, which nearly outscored the starters with 35 points.

Like Friday night against St. Scholastica, the Yellowjackets started fast and once again it was Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) leading the charge.  Linzmeier, who entered the game averaging 21.1 points per game scored six of the first eight points for the Yellowjackets as they jumped out to an 8-1 lead before the game was four minutes old. 

The teams traded points over the next ten minutes and a three-pointer from Britnee Blake (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) made the lead 26-15 with just over six minutes left in the half.  Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) added four points late in the half, but the Vikings went on a 13-6 run to close and shave the Yellowjacket lead to three, 32-29.

Connie Urmanski (Edgar, Wis./Edgar) scored four points in the first minute of the second half to get the Yellowjackets off and running once again.  The hot shooting continued and the lead surged to 20, 66-46, when Linzmeier scored her final points of the game with 7:53 to play.  The Yellowjackets shot 57.6%, compared to 38.5% for the Vikings after the break and outscored them 46-34 in the process, gaining the victory.

Linzmeier led the Yellowjackets with 16 points in just 25 minutes while Urmanski added 11 for the Yellowjackets, who got at least one point from 13 different players.  Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) scored eight points, while Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) and Allie Nelson (Augusta, Wis./Augusta) scored seven and six points, respectively, off the Yellowjacket bench.

Hillary Peterson (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake) added nine points and pulled down a team best eight rebounds.  She also added three blocks.  Linzmeier led the Yellowjackets with seven assists and Urmanski added four steals.

Jade Pelzl was the top scorer for Bethany Lutheran with 16 points. 

Milestone Update: With 11 points, Urmanski now has 979 points and needs just two to move into sole possession of eighth place on the all-time scoring list, currently occupied by Ann DeBruin (1982-87).  Her six assists in the game moved her past Sandy Eiltertsen (1983-87) into third place on the all-time list.  Next up in second place on the list is Kati Galovich (2001-05) with 263 assists.

The Yellowjackets (8-2, 3-1 WIAC) will have a two-week break and return to the court on Saturday, December 29 when they play Trinity Christian College at the Alverno College Tournament.  The opening tip is set for 3:00 p.m.