MANKATO, MINN. – The Valley City State women’s basketball team fell to Bethany Lutheran College Saturday afternoon, 77-59.

Valley City State shot 34 percent from the field (21-61), 16 percent on 3’s (4-25), and 68 percent from the free throw line (13-19). Bethany Lutheran shot 37 percent from the field (28-76), 18 percent on 3’s (5-28), and 62 percent on free throws (21-32).

Bethany Lutheran pulled down 21 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second chance points Saturday. As a team, Bethany Lutheran also recorded 17 assists and 19 steals in the game.

Valley City opened with the first two baskets of the game, but Abby Olson of Bethany Lutheran answered back with the next 13 straight points that would prove to be critical in the outcome of the game. Bethany Lutheran held on throughout the first half as they led 39-30 over Valley City State at halftime.

Almost halfway through the third quarter, a layup by Mackenzie Huber with a good free throw on the and-1 brought Valley City within six of Bethany Lutheran. They wouldn’t let Valley City State any closer the rest of the way as they built upon their lead to a 77-59 home victory.

Valley City falls to 3-7 on the season while Bethany Lutheran improves to 8-2.

Valley City was led by Adriana Torres who scored a team-high 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds Saturday. Taryn Dieterle added 11 points and five boards while Alexis Bentz added 10 points and six rebounds. As a team, Valley City State recorded 8 blocks against Bethany Lutheran.

Bethany Lutheran’s Hanna Geistfeld recorded a double-double Saturday as she scored 29 points and tallied 10 rebounds. Abby Olson added 26 points for Bethany Lutheran, including four of their five 3-pointers in the game.

UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to rival University of Jamestown for another non-conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.