UMAC Game of the Week: Bethany Lutheran vs. Wisconsin-Superior - Women's Basketball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each week during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
The Matchup
Saturday, Feb. 9 - Bethany Lutheran College at University of Wisconsin-Superior, women's basketball, 3 p.m. in Superior, Wisconsin
***UPDATE***
Wisconsin-Superior wins 74-61 to earn share of UMAC title and No. 1 seed.
What's at Stake
- Championship title - Following Saturday's contest, both squads have just one contest each remaining and both will face North Central University. Whichever team wins Saturday will lock up at least a share of the conference title and puts it in a position for an outright title with a win over the Rams.
- Playoff impact - In addition to a share of the regular season title, the winning team would lock up the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament if the University of Minnesota Morris defeats North Central Saturday. In that situation, if Bethany Lutheran wins, the Vikings would have the tiebreaker with two head-to-head victories over Wisconsin-Superior. Should the Yellowjackets win, they would own the tiebreaker over the Vikings as Minnesota Morris defeated the Vikings earlier in the season and the Yellowjackets twice held off the Cougars who would finish no worse than third if they win Saturday. If North Central wins Saturday, neither team can clinch the top seed that day.
- Rematch - Bethany Lutheran defeated Wisconsin-Superior 72-60 on Jan. 5 to end the Yellowjackets' winning streak against UMAC opponents. Prior to the loss, the Yellowjackets had won 53-straight UMAC conference games and 59-consecutive overall games against UMAC teams since joining the UMAC in 2015-16. The Yellowjackets have still not lost at home to a UMAC opponent since joining the membership, and they will look to keep that alive when hosting the Vikings Saturday.
Previously in Action
- Bethany Lutheran dominated Crown College with a 79-49 win on the road Wednesday to improve to 13-1 in the conference standings.
- Wisconsin-Superior handed the University of Northwestern a healthy 81-59 loss Wednesday night to also remain atop the standingswith the Vikings at 13-1.
Need to Know
- Ranked - Wisconsin-Superior boasts a 21-2 overall record this season and was ranked No. 8 in the first published NCAA Division III West Region rankings. This is a first for the program since joining the UMAC.
- Impressive streaks - Starting with that victory over the Yellowjackets, the Vikings ended a two-game skid and started their current nine-game winning streak with all wins coming against UMAC teams. In that span, the Vikings defeated the Yellowjackets by 12 points and escaped three other games by single-digit margins. The five other wins were all by 22 points or more. Following the loss, the Yellowjackets began a nine-game winning streak that includes eight against UMAC squads. Their closest margin of victory was by just 10 points over Northwestern. The seven other UMAC contests have been decided by 21 points or more.
- Offensive dominance - Both squads average over 76 points per game (ppg) with the Vikings topping the category at 78.8 ppg and the 'Jackets second with 76.6 ppg. The Yellowjackets own the best scoring margin in conference games at 26.1 ppg, while the Vikings are just behind at 23.3 ppg.
- Evenly matched - The two teams are evenly matched in so many other aspects of the game which means both teams will need to limit mistakes to come away with a win. Both teams are shooting around 44 percent from the field and have an identical field goal defense percentage of 34.1. They are the top two teams in conference games in 3-point percentage at over 35 percent each with Bethany Lutheran converting over seven a game and Wisconsin-Superior six. Both squads average over 41 rebounds against UMAC teams, while Wisconsin-Superior has a solid edge in rebounding margin at 11.4 per game as opposed to Bethany's 4.4.
Players to Watch - Bethany Lutheran
- Hanna Geistfeld, So., F - UMAC Stats: 15.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 62.9 FG% (1st), 0.6 bpg
- Abby Olson, So., G - 2017-18 Rookie of the Year; UMAC Stats: 18.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 46.9 FG%, 44.2 3-pt% (1st), 4.7 apg, 1.5 spg
- Haley Sandin, Sr., G - All-UMAC last season; UMAC Stats: 15.7 ppg, 39.5 FG%, 87.6 FT% (1st), 5.6 apg (1st), 3.6 spg (1st)
Players to Watch - Wisconsin-Superior
- Emily Carpenter, Sr., G - UMAC Stats: 9.5 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.5 a/TO (1st)
- Hannah Norlin, Sr., F - All-UMAC Last Season; UMAC Stats: 14.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 48.2 FG%, 80.5 FT%, 1.4 bpg
- Eva Reinertsen, Jr., F - UMAC Stats: 15.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 53.4 FG%, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg
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2018-19 Game of the Week Archives