ARDEN HILLS, Minn.­—Both teams had a lot riding on tonight's premier MIAC women's basketball showcase between Bethel University and the No. 2-ranked University of St. Thomas, but in the end it was UST that held on to win in the Robertson Center Gym 81-77. The Royals, now 19-5 on the season and 13-4 in loop play, saw their 11-game win streak and 13-game home winning streak come to an end, while the Tommies remained unbeaten at 24-0.
 
Coming into this evening, the most points allowed by the St. Thomas defense in a single game was 58 and the closest any team had come to defeating the Tommies was 12 points. The Royals pushed UST to 77 and finished four points shy throughout the 40 minutes of play, but what eventually led to their shortfall was a 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) effort from the free throw line. Additionally, the Tommies finished the game 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) from beyond the 3-point line and 31-of-55 (56.4 percent) from the floor.
 
Bethel has typically been the team to put on a defensive clinic; however, it was role reversal tonight, as St. Thomas forced BU into 13 turnovers thanks to 10 steals. The Tommies capitalized on this by outscoring the Royals 15-6 off of turnovers. But where Bethel equalized itself was in second chance points'—outscoring UST 14-7.
 
The Royals finished the game shooting 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from downtown. For the first time this season, all five starters scored in double figures. Kalli Zimmermann led the team with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Shanni Moorse had 18 points and five boards. Moorse was 6-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-3 from downtown.
 
Rachel Parupsky tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Hannah Niewald scored 12 points, grabbed four boards, and dished four assists. Sydney Schultz added 10 points.
 
Maggie Weiers led all scorers with 23 points for St. Thomas, while Jenna Dockter added 19 and nine assists.
 
Despite the loss, Bethel has still clinched the No. 2 seed heading into the MIAC Playoffs next week. The Royals will close out the regular season at home on Saturday in a 1 p.m. matinee against Carleton College.