MANKATO, Minn. – Since joining the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in 2015, the Yellowjacket women's basketball program has dominated the circuit, winning four-straight regular season championships.

Coming into the season, the 'Jackets had only lost one regular season contest in UMAC play, that coming to Bethany Lutheran. The Vikings, were the team that late last season ended the Yellowjacket stranglehold on the UMAC playoff championship, and Saturday they were looking to do the same when it comes to the regular season.
 
The rivals squared off at North Gym in Mankato with the conference title on the line. Both teams had 13-2 records in conference play, meaning the winner would not only be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, but would also be the league's undisputed regular season champion.

The Yellowjackets picked the wrong day to have an uncharacteristic game.
 
Bethany Lutheran exploded offensively and clamped down defensively in the third quarter, turning a five-point lead into a 22-point mountain that was insurmountable as it defeated the Yellowjackets 71-48.
 
With the loss, the Yellowjackets (17-8, 13-3 UMAC) will be the No. 2 seed in the UMAC tournament and will host Northwestern February 26 at the Mertz. The teams split their regular season contests, with the Yellowjackets defeating the Eagles by 27 just last Wednesday.
 
The teams went back and forth in the first quarter before the Vikings opened up a seven-point lead late in the frame. A three-point play by Ellie Leadstrom (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) reduced the deficit to four, 19-15, as the quarter came to a close.
 
There was more close play in the second quarter. The Yellowjackets clawed their way back, taking a 22-21 lead when Marissa Ruiz (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) hit a three with 6:09 to go in the second. That would be the last time the Yellowjackets would lead, as Bethany Lutheran went on a 9-3 run to close the first half up five at 30-25.
 
The Vikings came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter. The Yellowjackets scored the first bucket to pull to within three, but the Vikings went on a 15-0 run to blow the game open. The Bethany Lutheran lead would balloon to as many as 28 in the fourth, before the Yellowjackets closed the gap as time expired.
 
Ruiz led the Yellowjackets with 11 points, making her the only Superior player in double figures. The Vikings did a fantastic job neutralizing top scorer Eva Reintertsen. The senior finished the day with only six shots attempted and scored six points on two-of-six shooting. Reinertsen did lead the Yellowjackets with five rebounds.
 
Hanna Geistfeld led all scorers with 17 points.