MANKATO, Minn. - In a high-scoring affair, Minnesota Morris dropped a 92-83 decision Wednesday night to Bethany Lutheran in UMAC women's basketball action in Mankato.

The Cougars trailed 14-11 in the first quarter before closing the stanza on an 13-5 spurt to take a 24-19 advantage into the second quarter. Becca Holland started the run with a 3 to tie it at 14. Mauren Thiesen gave UMM the lead with a jumper. Abby Van Kempen and Bailey Miller added baskets to end the quarter.

The two teams exchanged baskets throughout the first five minutes of the second quarter. Another Holland 3 gave the Cougars a six-point edge at 38-32. Bethany followed with seven straight to take a one-point lead. Later down 3, Van Kempen and Miller scored consecutive baskets to give the Cougars a 44-43 lead going into the break.

Bethany came out firing out of the locker room scoring the first 10 points of the third quarter to take a 53-44 lead. Zoe Loucks stopped the run with a jumper that sparked a Cougar run of their own. A Thiesen lay-in and a Miller jumper ended a 13-4 run that tied the game at 57. The Vikings though hit three 3s in the final minute and took a 66-59 lead into the final quarter.

Bethany maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter. The Cougars cut the lead to five a few times, but were unable to get any closer.

Elli Stevenson led four Cougars in double figures with 18 points. Van Kempen scored 16 and Miller added 15. Kendra Raths had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota Morris (2-10, 2-2 in UMAC) next plays Saturday home to North Central at 5 p.m. at Jim Gremmels Court.