MORRIS, Minn. - Minnesota Morris broke open a tight game down the stretch to down Bethany Lutheran, 74-66, Saturday in UMAC women's basketball action at Jim Gremmels Court.

An Elli Stevenson lay-in gave the Cougars a 57-49 lead to start the fourth quarter, but the Vikings scored the game's next seven points to pull within 1 at 57-56 with 7:18 remaining. It would remain that way for the next three and a half minutes until a Mauren Thiesen jumper put the Cougars up by 3 with 3:51 left. After a Bethany lay-in, Stevenson drained a big 3 from the left corner to give UMM a 62-58 lead with 3:12 remaining. A minute later, Stevenson fed Kendra Raths inside for a lay-in to put the Cougars up 6. Bethany again would pull within 1 at 64-63 with 1:34 left. Needing a basket, Thiesen drained a huge 3 to give the Cougars a two-possession lead at 67-63 with 1:12 left. The Cougars made seven of eight free throws in the final minute to gain the key eight-point win.

The Cougars trailed by 3 after one quarter. Thiesen and Raths hit back-to-back 3s to give the Cougars a 27-25 lead four minutes into the second quarter. The teams exchanged baskets the rest of the quarter. Another Thiesen 3 in the final minute gave UMM a 36-35 lead going into halftime.

Stevenson led four Cougars in double figures with 19 points. Thiesen scored 14 while dishing out eight assists. Bailey Miller scored 13 while Raths added 11.

Minnesota Morris (9-12, 8-4 in UMAC) hosts Martin Luther Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Jim Gremmels Court.