Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

By Joseph Baer, Mankato Free Press

MANKATO, Minn. (Dec. 10, 2008) -- Bethany Lutheran women’s basketball won in a 97-23 blowout against North Central University on Tuesday night, but everyone’s eyes were on Vikings’ Senior Eva Voss.

Voss scored 14 points, collected 10 rebounds, and made five steals in 24 minutes during the victory. The 14 points puts her at 1,001 for her career to reach the impressive 1,000 point milestone. She also was awarded Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Player of the Week for December 1-7. Voss has been a key part of four Bethany women’s basketball teams, much due to her durability. Voss has yet to miss a game due to injury and has started in all 87 games during her stay at Bethany. Voss has also nearly averaged a double-double in her career with 11.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

The game itself wasn’t too competitive. The Vikings jumped out to a 13 point lead before the Rams put any points on the scoreboard. Bethany managed to neutralize the Rams’ 6’2 center Naomi Sanon by keeping her in foul trouble, which eventually led to an early departure. Sanon, who had a staggering number of 167 rebounds in six games, only played 20 minutes, scored six points, and pulled down nine rebounds. Without Sanon, North Central was held to only five second half points and Bethany won by 74.

Molly Erdman led all scorers in the game with 15 points which was helped by her four for seven night behind three point line. Casey Gudahl matched Voss with 14 points of her own and Lindsey Kahle added 10 point and eight rebounds in the win. Freshman Klea Swenson (Nicollet, Minn./Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial) had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. All 11 players in the game for the Vikings scored.

The victory improves the Bethany women’s basketball record to 3-6 (0-2 UMAC) and the North Central Rams (0-7) failed to pick up their first victory of their young season. The Bethany women will continue their season at home on Saturday night when they host Waldorf College. If you can’t wait for the weekend, the Bethany men will also face Wartburg College on Wednesday at home. Both games are set for 7 pm tip-offs.