MORRIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Morris women's basketball team used a big edge in free throw shooting and in rebounding to help push their win streak to four after a 68-53 win over Bethany Lutheran Friday night at Jim Gremmels Court.

Defensive efforts from both teams caused a low-scoring first half. The Cougars held Bethany to 20.6 percent from the floor while the Vikings held Minnesota Morris to just 23.3 percent shooting. UMM held a 22-18 edge at the break.

Free throw shooting helped give the Cougars a double-digit lead in the second half. The Cougars made 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) from the charity stripe in the second half alone and were 32-of-41 (78 percent) for the game. Early in the fourth quarter, Mauren Thiesen made all four attempts from the line following a Bethany personal foul and subsequent technical foul. Those four freebies gave the Cougars a 46-37 lead.

Bethany cut the lead down to 6 at 54-48 halfway through the fourth, but the Cougars would outscore the Vikings 14-5 the rest of the way en route to the 15-point victory. Consecutive lay-ins from Tori Holt, Thiesen, and Abby Van Kempen gave the Cougars their first double-digit lead at 60-48.

The play of Minnesota Morris' post players were big on Friday night. Both Holt and Van Kempen gave double-double efforts. Holt had 13 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 9-for-10 from the foul line and Van Kempen added 12 points and 19 rebounds as the Cougars held a 53-43 edge on the glass.

Elli Stevenson had a great game from the backcourt scoring 18 points while making all nine of her free throws.

Minnesota Morris (4-4, 2-0 in UMAC) returns to the home court Saturday against Martin Luther at 3 p.m.