SUPERIOR, Wis. -- Bethany Lutheran pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 66-48 victory over the UW-Superior women's basketball team at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
The Vikings (7-14, 5-5 UMAC) outscored UWS (7-12, 5-5), 34-26, in the second half for the win, getting 19 points from Sara Kottke. BLC expanded its 45-38 lead at the end of the third quarter by 11 points in the final 10 minutes.
 
Ashley Schindele scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds and two steals for the Vikings, as well. BLC shot 47.9 percent for the game, including 50 percent or better in three quarters.
 
Senior Kaelyn Christian (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville Senior) scored 19 points and ripped down eight rebounds to lead the Yellowjackets. Junior Erika Mattson (Ely, Minn./Ely Memorial) scored 10 points -- matching her career high -- for the second consecutive day. 
 
The teams played a tight first quarter with Christian knotting the game at 8-8 with a pair of free throws with 3:19 remaining. Kottke scored the next four points for a 12-8 lead before Christian knocked down a jumper to make it 12-10. BLC led, 17-13 after one.
 
UWS tied the game at 17-17 following a Mady Sanders (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) steal and Mattson layup with 7:42 to play in the half, but the Vikings ran off an 11-2 stretch to take control at 28-19 and led, 33-22, at the break.
 
A Christian 3-pointer with 7:17 left in the third cut the deficit to 34-31 prior to a Kottke basket pushing it to 42-33 with five minutes remaining the in the third.
 
BLC outscored UWS 21-10 in fourth for to earn the victory.
 
Superior returns to action Friday at North Central. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.