Mankato, Minn. - The Polars traveled to Bethany Lutheran on Wednesday night, falling to 0-2 in conference play after a 30-62 loss to the Vikings. 

The game got off to a slow start offensively for both teams. After forcing a turnover on the Vikings opening possession, the Polars took nearly a minute of possession after taking five shots in a row, missing all five. Sydney Cotten got the scoring started for both teams nearly three minutes into the game on a driving lay-up to give the Polars their only lead of the game. 

It took another minute and a half for the next point to be scored as the Vikings tied it up at two points apiece. After Bethany continued on a 9-0 run, Morgan Bednarek used a nifty post move to bring the score to 2-9. The Vikings finished the quarter on their second 9-0 run in the frame to take an 18-4 lead.  

The Vikings scored the first 7 points of the second quarter before Jacee Glasgow was able to get to the rim and score for the Polars. Avery Youngblood made a free throw late in the second quarter, but it was all Vikings as they outscore the Polars 18-3 in the second and led 36-7 at halftime. 

Both teams struggled to score again to start the third quarter, and the Polars were outscored just 8-6 the first nine minutes of the quarter with 2 points from both Avery Youngblood, Morgan Bednarek and Sydney Cotten. Jacee Glasgow then got a layup to go on a nice spin move as the third quarter was a much closer 11-8 score in favor of the Vikings as they take a 47-15 lead into the fourth quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, Bethany scored the first five points before Morgan Bednarek got a tough layup to go. The Polars outscored the Vikings the rest of the quarter as the teams were even in scoring at 15-15 in the fourth frame. The final score was 62-30 in favor of Bethany Lutheran.  

The Polars played this one without their two leading scores in Brayli Reimer and Isabelle Sager, so it was Avery Youngblood stepping up with a team high 8 points. Sydney Cotten and Morgan Bednarek each had 6 points as those three combined for 20 of the 30 points for the Polars. Bednarek also finished with 12 rebounds, the most from any player from either team in the game.  

The Polars return to action on Saturday, January 17 for their first home conference game of the season as they host North Central at 1:00 pm.