Morris, Minn. – Balanced scoring – and a lot of it – sent the Minnesota Morris basketball team to their fourth straight win, as they took a 91-72 decision tonight (Jan. 20) over visiting Bethany Lutheran in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play.

Four different players scored in double figures for the Cougars, and for the first time all season, multiple players finished with 20 or better, with three doing so tonight. Jenni Noordmans (Hancock, Minn.) and Kendra Wycoff (Montrose, Minn.) each led the way with 21, with Emily Mehr adding 20, as the Cougars scored a season high 91 points.

The Cougars (7-6, 4-0 UMAC) shot a season high 60% (12-of-20) from behind the arc, which include a blazing 70% (7-of-10) in the first half as they took a 15-point lead into the locker room at 39-24.

After the Vikings (3-12, 2-2 UMAC) took a quick 5-2 lead over the first 90 seconds, the Cougars responded with a 29-to-6 run to take their biggest lead of the half at 20 points after a Noordmans jumper put UMM up 31-11 at the 7:57 mark.

Noordmans already had 12 at the break, missing just once in a 5-of-6 first half that included a 2-of-2 mark from three-point range.

The Cougars also forced 12 Vikings turnovers in the first half, turning them into 11 points, part of 17 points off 18 Bethany Lutheran miscues in the game.

The second half was more of the same, as Morris opened their lead all the way up to 31, the third time they've led by at least 30 in a game this season. At the 9:50 mark of the second, Allie Sannes (Hawley, Minn.) hit a pair free throws to put the Cougars up 68-37, and they coasted the rest of the way, holding a 20-point lead nearly the entire way.

Sannes hit double figures for the second third time this season, scoring 12 as the final Cougar in double figures.

Sannes and Wycoff paced a bench effort that led to 40 points from the Cougar reserves, as eight different players got in the scoring column.

They also pulled down 41 rebounds on the night – their fifth time over 40 – led by a career high nine from point guard Kelsey Erickson, all on the defensive end. Noordmans and Abby Fragodt each also added eight.

With the win, the Cougars move back above the .500 mark for the first time since the second game of the season, and stay unbeaten in conference play. They also extend their UMAC winning streak to 29 straight, but will face their toughest test yet tomorrow night when they face fellow unbeaten, Martin Luther.

The Knights will also enter at 4-0 in conference play, following their win over Presentation tonight. Sole possession of the lead in the UMAC race will be up for grabs at 3:00 p.m. on Jim Gremmels Court in a huge conference match-up.