Yellowjackets 74, Bethany Lutheran 61

SUPERIOR, Wis.: The day was January 5. That was the day the Yellowjacket women's basketball team saw its three-plus year winning streak in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play go by the boards, courtesy of a defeat at the hands of Bethany Lutheran on the Vikings' home court. That day, standout seniors were the story on both sides.

Haley Sandin of Bethany Lutheran torched the Yellowjackets in that one, scoring 32 points, including going a perfect 18-for-18 from the free-throw line. On the Yellowjackets' side, Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) scored just 10 points in 19 minutes of play and fouled out of the contest before end of the third quarter.

So it stands to reason the Yellowjackets were looking forward to the rematch, knowing full well playoff seeding and home-court advantage would hang in the balance when the Vikings visited Mertz Mortorelli Gym.

That day was today. And this time around the Yellowjackets got their revenge.

With the teams tied atop the conference standings, and with both clubs riding nine-game winning streaks, fans in attendance were treated to the best the UMAC had to offer in this week's UMAC Game of the Week. And Norlin was once again front and center, as she posted her ninth double-double of the season and the Yellowjackets rolled to a 74-61 win in Superior Saturday.

Norlin scored 29 points to lead all scorers, and also pulled down 12 rebounds as the Yellowjackets improved to 22-2 overall and 14-1 in UMAC play. The win also clinched a share of the UMAC regular season title for the Yellowjackets, who can clinch their fourth-straight championship outright with a road win over North Central next Saturday. Perhaps more importantly, the Yellowjackets clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming UMAC playoffs.

The Yellowjackets came out flying, powered by back-to-back threes from Katie White (Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes) to open up an 8-0 lead. Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled) hit a layup that helped the Yellowjackets go up by 11 with just over four mintes left in the opening quarter, but Bethany Lutheran began to heat up from beyond the arc and closed that gap as the teams moved into the second quarter. Bethany Lutheran would draw even at 28-28 with just over three minutes to play in the first half, then a minute later would take a 31-30 lead. It would be their only lead of the contest, and it wouldn't last long. With 1:31 to go in the half White hit a layup and the Yellowjackets regained the lead. Norlin would hit a layup late and the Yellowjackets would take a 34-31 lead into the locker.

As the third quarter unfolded the Yellowjackets put the pedal down, and Norlin would play a huge role.

The Yellowjackets scored six of the first eight points in the quarter to gain some separation. The Yellowjacket lead would reach 11, but Bethany Lutheran would keep it close. Norlin scored 12 points alone in the quarter, with the Yellowjackets outscoring the Vikings 21-16, but the lead was just eight, 55-47, heading into the fourth quarter.

Marissa Ruiz (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) hit a three early in the fourth quarter to make it an 11-point game, and the 'Jackets didn't look back. Norlin would make it a 16-point game with just over four minutes to play, and the Yellowjackets would cruise the rest of the way to get the win.

Emily Carpenter (St. Peter, Minn./St. Peter) was strong from start to finish for the Yellowjackets, scoring 18 points and hitting on eight of her 12 shots, including a pair of threes. She also had five assists and three rebounds. White scored a season-high 12 points. Taylor Kane (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) led the Yellowjackets with seven assists.

Abby Olson led Bethany Lutheran with 18 points.