Box Score

WINONA, Minn.—After recording one of their best seasons in program history, the Bethel University's women's basketball team came up short in Thursday night's MIAC Playoff semifinal matchup against Saint Mary's University. The Royals (20-7) held an early margin, but could not restrain the No. 1-seeded Cardinals (24-2) down the stretch, falling 63-94 at SMU Gym in Winona.  
 
Free throws were the name of the game Thursday evening, as Bethel had one of its poorest shooting performances of the season. The Royals, despite getting to the foul line frequently, managed to shoot just 57.9 percent from the free throw line on 22-of-38 shooting. Conversely, the Cardinals converted 32-of-39 (82.1 percent).
 
In addition to the opposition at the charity stripe, SMU also shot 47.5 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from downtown, while BU mustered 30.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from outside the arc.
 
The Royals opened the game well—leading 18-17 at the midway point of the first half—but a 9-0 run for the Cardinals gave the host a lead they never relinquished. Sydney Schultz hit 2-of-5 from downtown and Kalli Zimmermann paced BU with nine points in the frame.
 
Bethel quickly fell behind, though, as they converted just 5-of-12 from the free throw line and suffered 12 turnovers in the initial 20 minutes of play.
 
The second half didn't get any easier, as BU was outscored 52-35. The Royals suffered just five turnovers in the frame, but allowed the Cardinals nine more rebounds. Moreover, Bethel shot just 24.2 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Three players scored in double figures for the Royals, including Kalli Zimmermann, Hannah Niewald, and Rachel Parupsky. Zimmermann and Niewald each finished with 14 points, while Rachel Parupsky tallied 13 and 12 rebounds. Those three collectively shot 11-of-27, but the rest of the BU's squad finished 7-of-33.
 
Saint Mary's outrebounded Bethel 48-37 and aided eight more shots than the Royals. Bethel's 17 total turnovers turned into 21 points off turnovers for the Cardinals, while Bethel collected a small two-point advantage in second-chance points.
 
Bridget Pethke led the Cardinals with 23 points and four assists, helping SMU finish the game 28-of-59 from the floor. Darcey Rice and Courtney Euerle also finished in double figures.
 
Bethel's remarkable season comes to an end after tonight's defeat. The Royals will say farewell to a pair of seniors, Katelyn Vavra and Micaella Petrich, who helped BU reach the postseason in three out of four years. Together this group hit the 20-win plateau for the first time in 20 years.