NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's basketball team could not hold a late lead and lost to visiting Bethan Lutheran College, 66-62, in the season opener for both squads. The Knights were led by senior guard Jill Yanai (Glendale, Calif./Glendale), who scored 22 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
 
It was the Knights first game action since Feb. 22, 2020, a span of 623 days since Carleton did not engage in intercollegiate competition last season due to COVID-19.
 
"This was hard-fought battle against a very good veteran team," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "I am pleased with our effort and the focus we played with. After an 18-month break it was fun to be back on the court competing. A nice first college game for our first and second test players. We will get back to work on Monday and just try to keep improving."
 
The game was close throughout and featured eight ties and a dozen lead changes. Interestingly, both sides were 6-of-18 from three-point range and 14-of-23 from the charity stripe. The Vikings were 17-of-40 (42.5 percent) inside the arc, while Carleton was 15-of-44 (34.1 percent)
 
Carleton led 21-14 after the opening quarter, but Bethany Lutheran came back and maintained a slim 37-35 advantage at intermission.
 
The Vikings matched their largest lead of the evening at 49-42 with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter, but the Knights answered with a 10-3 spurt that tied the score at 54-54 early in the fourth stanza.
 
Yanai's driving layup gave Carleton a 60-59 lead with 3:08 still to play, but the Vikingss closed the game on a 7-2 run to secure the victory.
 
Hanna Geistfeld finished with game highs of 29 points and 19 rebounds to lead Bethan Luthean. No other Viking reached double figures.
 
While Yanai was posting her second career game with at least 20 points, Jasmine Choi (So./Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) contributed 13 points in her collegiate debut.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff on Friday, Nov. 12.