UW-Superior 90, Bethany Lutheran 72
SUPERIOR, Wis. (January 6, 2018) – The Yellowjackets kept their UMAC record perfect for the sixth-straight game Saturday night, as they beat Bethany Lutheran by 18, and Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) scored her 1000th point with 27 on the night.
The 'Jackets jumped out early on the Vikings, opening the game on a 13-4 run on baskets from Kontny, Jade Tucker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake), and a 3-pointer from Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover). The points continued to pile up, as Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) found the basket on a layup assisted by Emily Carpenter (St. Peter, Minn./St. Peter) to make it 20-6 with 3:26 left to go in the first. Kontny soon made it a 14-point lead on a 2-point jumper assisted by Brittany Laehn (Gilmanton, Wis./Gilmanton), while Taylor Kane (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) found the offensive rebound and basket to end the period up 19.
The lead increased in the second quarter, as Carpenter hit the open 2-pointer on an assist from Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), followed up by an Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled) three, assisted by Carpenter. The lead reached 25 points when Kane found Carpenter for another open 3-pointer at 6:48 of the second; the lead would hold there as Bethany Lutheran made shots, but the Yellowjackets kept answering. Laehn found points, assisted by Tucker, to finish the period up 50-25 heading to the locker room.
The largest lead of the game came in the third quarter; Kontny grabbed the defensive rebound and quickly passed the ball up the court to Larson who scored the fastbreak layup with ease. The anticipation kept growing amongst the scorer's table as Kontny found a basket after an offensive rebound, Superior would hold a 22-point lead into the fourth.
The moment finally came for Kontny in the fourth quarter, as Larson stole the ball and found Kontny on the fastbreak for the layup, her final point of the game, and her 1000th. The bench cleared, a timeout taken, and there were smiles all around. The 'Jackets cruised from this point forward, getting the easy win.
Kontny led all scorers with 27 points, but was also the only player to get the double-double, grabbing 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Norlin was the only other Yellowjacket in double-figures, scoring 17 points in 22 minutes. Larson had a good day passing the ball, getting eight assists, while Leger was perfect from 3-point range, going 2-for-2.
It was a field day for Superior shooting the ball, shooting 49 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the first quarter.
The Vikings' Haley Sandin had 15 points.
The Yellowjackets will look to continue their winning streak into next week, playing the Northwestern Eagles Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
