Box Score The Saints women's basketball team received their first conference loss to the Bethany Lutheran Vikings 68-59 in Mankato on Friday night.

The loss to the Vikings (2-11, 1-1 UMAC) marks only the second time in the last eight meetings that the Saints have fallen to Bethany.

Bethany jumped out early in the first half gaining a quick 9-3 lead early into the game.

The Saints slowly but surely battled back and with a Kayla Heisler (Remer, Minn./Northland HS) three-pointer, CSS took a 15-14 lead midway through the period.

The teams were back and forth throughout most of the rest of the half until the Vikings went on an 8-0 run late in the half to make it 28-21. 

The Saints would once again attempt a comeback in the final two minutes but could only cut the lead down to six as the halftime score was 33-27 in favor of Bethany.

CSS began another comeback at the start of the second half and got the score back within one with 13:48 left in the game but that is as close as they would get.

The Vikings went on a 10-2 run to gain a 13 point lead with 6:07 left to go.  The scoring was back and forth the rest of the way as the Saints could only cut the lead down to nine and the game ended with Bethany on top 68-59.

Caitlin McKernon (Coon Rapids, Minn./Fridley HS) led the way for CSS as the only player to score double digits with 18.  Laura Amys (South Range, Wis./Superior HS) snagged seven rebounds and recorded a team-high four blocks.

As a team the Saints shot only 35.4% from the field on a night that they were out-rebounded by Bethany 51-40.

The Saints (3-10, 1-1 UMAC) will stay in Southern Minnesota for tomorrow afternoon's game to take on the Martin Luther College Knights (7-5, 2-0 UMAC) in New Ulm, Minn.  Stay updated on coverage information of the 3 p.m. tip-off at csssaints.com.