MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota Morris outscored Bethany Lutheran 45-24 in the second half and erased a double-digit halftime deficit to down the Vikings 78-68 Saturday afternoon in UMAC women's basketball action in Mankato.

The Cougars trailed 44-33 at the half. Less than four minutes into the third quarter, the Cougars had already erased that deficit by scoring the half's first 12 points and it was sophomore guard Elli Stevenson who gave the maroon and gold the spurt. She scored the first eight points of the half and connected on a pair of 3s. She later added a lay-in that gave the Cougars a 45-44 lead. Bethany regained the lead and took a 55-53 edge into the fourth quarter. After being outscored 24-10 in the second quarter, the Cougars held a 20-11 edge in the third.

Minnesota Morris scored the first five points of the fourth quarter. Kendra Raths tied the game at 55 then Mauren Thiesen connected from deep to give the Cougars a 58-55 lead. Their advantage would only grow throughout the remainder of the game. After Bethany cut it to 2 at 61-59, Stevenson and Raths hit 3s and Raths connected on a lay-in to put the Cougars up 69-59 with 5:13 left. The Cougars lead would get to as high as 16 late in the game.

The Cougars shot 51 percent from the floor including 59 percent in the second half. Defensively, they held the Vikings 26 percent from the floor in the second half and eight percent from 3-point range (1-13).

Stevenson led the Cougars with 22 points. Raths had a double-double effort with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Thiesen added 13 points and Bailey Miller  had 11 points off the bench.

Minnesota Morris (15-5, 10-1 in UMAC) is off until next Saturday when they travel to Crown.