The University of Wisconsin Superior celebrated its alumnae on Saturday  while also raising the banner for its 2016 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular and postseason championships. The Yellowjackets then knocked off Bethany Lutheran College in UMAC play to move closer to yet another UMAC regular season title, defeating the Vikings 80-63 at Mortorelli Gymnasium.

Junior guard Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior H.S.), who earned the title of UMAC Player of the Year in 2015-16 while leading UW-Superior to that championship, earned a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday for the Yellowjackets. Even as UWS keeps winning, the regular season crown may come down to the finale as the Yellowjackets meet second place the University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday, February 18. The Cougars sit at 11-1 in the conference campaign with that lone loss coming at the hands of UW-Superior (18-4, 13-0 UMAC).

The Yellowjacket defense took over in the first half, keeping Bethany Lutheran (9-12, 7-6 UMAC) without a basket from the floor in the opening quarter but led 15-10 as the Vikings were perfect from the free throw line. UW-Superior held Bethany to just 11.5 percent shooting in the first half (3-of-26) but the Vikings would shoot 51.9 percent in the second to finish 32.1 percent for the day. Leading by 24 at the break, the victory was never really in danger for the Yellowjackets as Bethany would only trim the lead down to a low of 17 at the buzzer with a three-pointer.

UW-Superior shot 44.4 percent as a team, getting 36 points off its bench on the day including 12 from freshman forward Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled). Taylor Schultz had a team-high 14 points as a reserve for the Vikings.

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The Yellowjackets will meet the College of St. Scholastica in the bridge battle rematch next Saturday in the home regular season finale for UW-Superior. Opening tip is set for 3:00 p.m. preceding the men's contest.