MINNEAPOLIS-- Women's Hoops dropped a home Upper Midwest Athletic Conference at home on Friday night. The Rams were defeated, 71-50, by Bethany Lutheran College in the penultimate regular season conference home game of the year for both teams.

After a tight first quarter the Rams trailed just 18-15 after 10 minutes. The second quarter proved to be decisive as the Vikings extended their advantage to 40-27 and North Central spent the rest of the game trying to fight their way back.

North Central was outscored by just seven in the final two periods but the Rams could not make up the deficit created in the second quarter. NCU managed to get within 10 with 8:12 to play in the third but a 10-0 run by Bethany Lutheran (Mankato, Minn.) reasserted their control and held the Rams at bay throughout the final quarter.

KEY SEQUENCE OF THE GAME

North Central was within three points after the first quarter but the Rams struggled through the second quarter while Bethany Lutheran scorched the nets shooting over .600 from the floor in the second 10 minute frame. After NCU got within 21-19 with 8:40 left in the quarter, the Vikings ran away with a 20-2 run over the next eight minutes. North Central managed just 10 points in the period and spent the rest of the game fighting just to stay in the game.

KEY PERFORMANCE OF THE GAME

Senior Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Bufffalo) battled double and occasional triple teams on the offensive end but posted 17 points and 9 rebounds. High is now within 58 points of the Rams all-time scoring record.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Shooting percentage was the key on Friday as the Vikings fired 25-53 (.472) while NCU shot just 20-58 (.345)
• Bethany Lutheran earned a narrow 35-33 rebound advantage
• NCU earned a 14-7 advantage in second chance points
• The Vikings bench outscored the Rams 21-14

UP NEXT

North Central wraps up the home portion of their conference schedule tomorrow against Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.). The Rams and Knights tip off at 5 p.m.