Yellowjackets 79, Bethany Lutheran 60

Friday night saw the Yellowjacket women's basketball team play in their inaugural UMAC matchup when they faced off against Bethany Lutheran College. After dropping their last game at the hands of the College of Saint Benedict, the Yellowjackets were looking to get back to their winning ways.

They did just that, as they defeated the Vikings 79-60.

The Yellowjackets jumped all over Bethany Lutheran in this matchup, as a Bailee Bartunek jumper gave them an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. The Yellowjackets continued to pour it on throughout the quarter as they took a 20-4 lead off of an Allyssa Lindberg 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining. The Yellowjackets coasted the rest of the quarter as they went into the first break with a 25-11 lead.

Bethany Lutheran mounted a furious comeback to start the second quarter, as they scored the first 12 points of the quarter to cut the Yellowjacket lead to 25-23 with 8:11 remaining. The Vikings managed to take the lead for the first time all game with 5:27 remaining in the second quarter. The Yellowjackets fought back to retake the lead as Hailey Kontny put the team on her back, scoring seven points in the final minute of the half to give the Yellowjackets a 43-36 lead going into the break.

The third quarter saw the Yellowjackets fight to maintain their lead, as Bethany Lutheran managed to cut the deficit to two points at 49-47 with 2:36 remaining in the quarter. The Yellowjackets would score the final six points of the quarter, capped by a pair of Brittany Laehn free throws, to take a 55-47 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

The Yellowjackets opened the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run, capped by a Hadley Skalmoski jumper, as they built a 16 point lead. With just over six minutes remaining, the Yellowjackets were able to go on cruise control the rest of the way as they defeated the Vikings for their first UMAC victory.

This game belonged to Kontny, as she was the only Yellowjacket to score in double figures, finishing with 23 points.

Allie Nelson added eight points and four assists, while Skalmoski finished with eight points and six rebounds. Laehn chipped in eight points and also had four rebounds.

Bethany Lutheran was paced by Haley Sandin, who finished with 23 points. Minnie Frederik added 13 points and five rebounds, while Dakota Ellinghuysen finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Briana Brandts had eight points, but finished with 16 rebounds, with 11 of them being offensive rebounds.

The Yellowjackets shot 52.5% from the field, going 6-13 from beyond the 3-point arc while hitting 11-19 from the free throw line.

Bethany Lutheran shot 29.9% from the field, hitting 7-23 from beyond the 3-point arc while hitting 13-25 from the free throw line.

The Yellowjackets committed 20 turnovers while the Vikings committed 22.

Next up for the Yellowjackets (4-2, 1-0 UMAC) is a trip to New Ulm, Minn. Saturday, December 05 to take on Martin Luther College. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.