MANKATO, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team dropped a non-conference game at Bethany Lutheran, 88-62 Saturday afternoon at North Gym. The Scots are now 0-2 on the season, while the Vikings improve to 3-0.

Macalester scored the first eight points of the game, with junior guard Justine Barraza (Burbank, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) tallying six points. Bethany Lutheran recovered and closed out the first quarter with a 15-5 run to lead 15-13 at the end of the period. The Vikings extended the run into the second quarter with seven straight points to lead 22-13. Three-pointers by first year guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) and Barraza helped to cut the deficit to five, 28-23 with 3:47 left in the half. But Bethany Lutheran closed out the quarter with a 5-0 run to take a 33-23 lead into the break. Barraza led all players with 14 points in the first half.

The Scots battled to get back into the game early in the second half with a 10-6 run, including four points from junior guard Katie Sowerby (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais), that made the score 39-33 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. From that point, the Vikings put the game away by outscoring Macalester, 21-3 over the remainder of the quarter to build a 60-39 advantage. The Scots never came closer than 22 points the rest of the way, as Bethany Lutheran remained unbeaten on the season.

Barraza finished with 18 points and three steals to lead Macalester. Sowerby registered 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in a solid all-around performance. Senior guard Holly Hull (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) contributed 10 points and three steals, while sophomore guard Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) added 10 points and five rebounds. The Vikings were led by Kenlie Pytleski and Abby Olson with 17 points apiece.

The Scots host the University of Northwestern in their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.

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