NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's basketball team overcame a 10-point, fourth quarter deficit to down Bethany Lutheran College, 76-73, in a non-conference matchup at Skoglund Center on Sunday evening.

After trailing by 10 going into the fourth quarter, St. Olaf (5-6) posted its highest-scoring fourth quarter of the season, outscoring Bethany Lutheran (10-3) by a 28-15 margin in the final 10 minutes. The Oles shot 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) from the field in the final quarter to rally for the victory.

With 2:37 remaining in the contest, a fastbreak layup from junior Ella Skrien tied the game at 66-66. On the Oles' next possession, junior Allyson Fuller followed with a three-pointer that gave St. Olaf a three-point lead over Bethany Lutheran, as the Oles would remain on top for the remainder of the contest.

First year K'Lynn Lewis and classmate Rose Bauernfeind sank back-to-back jumpers with less than two minutes remaining to put St. Olaf up 74-70, but the Vikings answered with a three-pointer from Emilee Gustin to bring Bethany Lutheran within one at 74-73. A pair of free throws from Lewis extended the lead to three and accounted for the final margin of the game. The Vikings had a chance to tie it on the final possession but could not do so.

Four Oles reached double figures, including Lewis, who led St. Olaf, with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Skrien added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, and junior Britta Koenen and junior Keegan Mulvihill each posted 11 points. First year Camryn Scott tallied a career-high nine points and seven rebounds in her first collegiate start.

After St. Olaf started the game on a 6-0 run, but Bethany Lutheran ended the first quarter on a 17-4 run and took a seven-point lead to end the quarter after a pair of free throws from Natasha Young.

The Vikings extended their lead to 10 with 7:42 remaining in the second quarter, but St. Olaf answered with a 13-2 run and took the lead when Lewis found Scott inside for a layup. After three lead changes, Bethany Lutheran took the lead at 34-29 heading into the half.

Bethany Lutheran went on a 10-3 run in the third quarter and took a nine-point lead with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter. A Mulvihill layup brought the Oles within five, but six points in the last minute of the period by the Vikings would keep them on top by 10 heading into the fourth.

Facing a 10-point deficit, the Oles climbed back within six after a three-pointer from Lewis with 6:08 to go. At 5:27 in the fourth, the Vikings regained an eight-point lead with a pair of free throws from Haley Sandin, who led the visitors with a game-high 25 points, including a 15-for-19 evening at the free-throw line.

The Oles held Bethany Lutheran scoreless for the next 3:44 and took the lead after Fuller sank a three-pointer with 2:03 remaining. Sandin sank another pair of free throws to bring the Vikings within one and 1:43 remaining, but baskets from Lewis and Bauernfeind kept the Oles on top.

The Oles scored 40 points in the paint and shot 40.6 percent from the floor, while Bethany Lutheran posted 22 points in the paint and shot 35.9 percent. The Vikings were just 3-for-16 (18.8 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter.

St. Olaf is back to action Wednesday, Jan. 2, as they host Bethel in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest, beginning at 7 p.m.