Women's basketball season wrap-up
Monday, March 17, 2008

Joseph Baer

Mankato, Minn.—The Bethany women’s basketball team finished the season with a 14-10 record (8-6 UMAC). The Vikings just missed out on the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) post-season, tying for fourth in the conference with Presentation and losing out on a tie-breaker. Coach Tiffany Young Klockziem said, “We played through all sorts of injuries, and were a living example of ‘Success is measured not only by what you have achieved, but also by the obstacles you overcame to get there.’”

Bethany’s strong offensive attack was lead by two post players, who both earned honors for their great seasons. Both Eva Voss (Jr., N. Mankato, Minn., Minnesota Valley Lutheran) and Leslie Bremer (Sr., Northrop, Minn., Martin Luther) were named First Team All-Conference, and NCCAA All-Region. In addition, Bremer was named to the UMAC All-Defensive Team. Voss and Bremer both finished the year averaging double-doubles in scoring and rebounding. Voss lead the Vikings with 14.3 points and 11.2 rebounds a game, while Bremer added 12.1 points and 10.8 rebounds on average.

The Bethany women will play next season with many familiar faces, including regular starters and four players who averaged over eight points a contest. The team will lose two graduating seniors: Rachel Olsen (New Ulm, Minn., Minnesota Valley Lutheran) and Bremer. Coach Klockziem said of her departing seniors, “Rachel gave her whole heart in everything she did - she was quite rare in her high level of unselfishness and Christian leadership. Leslie was a captain and floor leader and finished an impressive three year career at Bethany with over 700 points and 700 rebounds. We'll miss both seniors, and at the same time, we look forward to the future and intend to keep building off the strong foundation they left behind.”

2007-08 Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
Monday, February 25, 2008

St. Paul, Minn. – The 2007-08 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women’s basketball team all-conference teams were announced on Friday in conjunction with the UMAC postseason tournament. Northwestern College, Presentation College, the University of Minnesota-Morris and Northland College all boasted two first team all-conference selections. Minnesota-Morris also had two players receive honorable mention accolades.

Linda Schuch, head coach of regular season and tournament champion northwestern, was selected as the league’s Coach of the Year. Counting the postseason tournament, the Eagles have won their last nine games and 13 of their last 16, having started the season at 0-6. Northwestern finished with a conference-best 11-3 UMAC record.

Joining Schuck in Northwestern’s list of awards was Ariel Liesch, who received the most all-conference votes, earning UMAC Player of the Year honors. Liesch, who scored 12 points in 10 games for the Eagles in 2006-07, averaged 15.4 points per game this year in her sophomore campaign. A shooting guard, Liesch also added 7.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in conference affairs to her season’s resume.

Liesch’s teammate in Kelly Zuleger was chosen as the postseason tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Zuleger was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field (5-fo-5 from downtown) in Friday’s semifinal game against Presentation before scoring 12 points in Saturday’s championship game versus Northland.

Northland forward Laura Fischer was selected for Newcomer of the year honors. The freshman averaged 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 2007-08.

Bethany Lutheran senior Leslie Bremer received both First-Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Junior Eva Voss was also named to the First-Team.

Bethany women score 46 second half points, beat Martin Luther
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Joseph Baer

New Ulm, Minn. - The Bethany women lead for most of the game and beat Martin Luther 73-67 on Tuesday night.

The Vikings played a complete game, both offensively and defensively. They jumped out to a 7-0 lead early and held on to the lead until the end of the half, when Martin Luther’s Katherine Kogler made a free throw to put the Knights ahead 28-27. Bethany took the lead once again early in the second half, extending their lead to as much as 10 points. Shanna Bahn hit a game-clinching three pointer with a minute left, to put the Vikings ahead 69-60. She finished with eight points and four assists.

The Vikings shot just under 36 percent from the field, but more importantly held the Knights to just 31 percent shooting. Bethany also forced 21 Martin Luther turnovers. Leslie Bremer and Eva Voss teamed up for 16 points a piece. Bremer added 10 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks in a complete effort. Guard Lindsey Kahle scored nine points and Laura Parochka added eight points in the Vikings win.

Martin Luther was led by a 15 point, seven rebound night from post player Katherine Kogler. Hannah Bode scored 12 points and stole the ball from the Vikings on five occasions. The Knights also saw 11 points from Jamie Boldt, who shot three for six from beyond the arc.

The Bethany women ended their season Tuesday night, finishing at 14-10 (8-6 UMAC). Martin Luther finished the year at 6-18 (5-9 UMAC). Seniors and team leaders Rachel Olsen and Leslie Bremer finished their Bethany basketball careers Tuesday night in New Ulm, Minn. The Vikings will look to build onto a team that finished above .500 and showed great potential throughout the season.