ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University women's basketball team dropped its first home and conference game of the season Saturday afternoon at the hands of Concordia College by a final score of 55-62. The loss is BU's first to any team not named St. Thomas over the past two seasons.
 
The Royals (3-3, 1-1 MIAC) trailed the Cobbers (4-3, 1-1 MIAC) by one point at the midway mark, but despite acquiring the lead shortly after the half, failed to sustain their advantage throughout the entire third and fourth quarter. Concordia's 46-38 advantage in rebounds played a huge part in the final result, which included a 14-9 comparison in offensive boards. The Cobbers utilized that small margin to outscore BU in second-chance points 7-2.
 
Bethel, who outscored Concordia 26-8 in bench points, shot just 34.5 percent from the floor and 20 percent from downtown. Moreover, the Royals made 14-of-22 shots from the foul line.
 
Freshman Hannah Johnson had her best game of the season, as the Duluth native led the team with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and seven rebounds in 24 minutes played. Molly O'Toole continued her double-double run at home, as Saturday's 10 points and 10 boards marked her second consecutive. Sydney Schultz and Shanni Moorse finished with nine and eight points, respectively, while Hannah Niewald added six points, six rebounds, and four steals in 30 minutes played.
 
The Royals hit the road for their next matchup, where they'll travel to St. Peter, Minnesota, to face Gustavus Adolphus College in a conference contest scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Lund Center.