Mankato, MN - The Northland College Lumberjills fell to the Vikings of Bethany Lutheran College, 96-66 on Saturday in Mankato, MN.  The Jills had no match inside for the Vikings post player Hanna Geistfeld who dominated in the paint, scoring 30 points.  
 
Looking to get things going through their solid post player, Bethany Lutheran found Geistfeld inside for the first points of the game.  The Vikings used the momentum of scoring the first points to jump out to a 9-0 lead until NC Freshman Bailey Wynn hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:55 to go in the quarter.  After the slow offensive start, the Jills traded buckets with the Vikings for the rest of the quarter and only trailed by 4, 20-16 when the first quarter ended.  
 
The second quarter started with Bethany Lutheran again scoring inside where they had the size advantage but NC's Freshman Alex Espinoza and Sophomore Lindsay Bressette were both fouled on consecutive possessions for the JIlls and they hit all their free throws to bring NC within 2, 22-20 with 8:09 to go in the half.  NC stayed close in the quarter due to their relentless full court pressure which forced the Vikings into turnovers. Halfway through the quarter the VIkings went to Geistfeld who scored on three consecutive possessions and brought the lead for BLC to 10 points, 38-28.  Bressette hit two at the line and Freshman Ashley Lopez had a steal for a layup to bring the Jills within 6, 38-32.  The Vikings were able to hit a baseline jumper to end the half up 8 points, 40-32.  
 
The size and depth of the Vikings began to wear down the Jills and the 8 point half time deficit was as close as the NC would get.  The Vikings hit the first 6 points of the third quarter and they kept rolling from there.  NC kept fighting and putting full court pressure on BLC but the Vikings extended their lead to 69-52 after three quarters.  The fourth quarter saw the Vikings continue to be efficient offensively and BLC rolled to a 96-66 lead.  
 
Despite the loss, the Jills saw a lot of positives in this contest against conference powerhouse BLC.  NC forced 29 turnovers and had 15 steals.  The Jills finally saw their active full court press fluster a top opponent.  Freshmen Bailey Wynn and Miranda Wagner led the Jills with 13 and 12 points.  Geistfeld finished with 30 points on 14 of 15 shooting and 11 rebounds.  
 
The Jills are at home for their next contest on Wednesday, January 15th against UMAC opponent, St. Scholastica.