Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Royals fought back from a 19 point halftime deficit to narrow the gap to five with 37 seconds remaining, but ultimately fell 83-77 to the visiting Gusties.

Bethel outscored Gustavus 53-40 in the second half by shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three-point line.  However, it was free throws that could have made the difference.  The Royals were a perfect 6-for-6 in the first half, but only 14-for-20 in the second, which proved to be the margin of defeat.

Gabriella Gustafson (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.) led Bethel with 28 points.  Her six rebounds were four short of team leader Annegret Nautsch (Jr., Seattle, Wash.), who was just named the MIAC Player of the Week for her performance last week.  Nautsch had her fourth consecutive double-double tonight with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  The only game she has not recorded a double-double thus far was Bethel's opener against the University of Sioux Falls.

Jess Vadnais, a D3hoops.com Preseason All-American, led all scorers with 29 points.  She also added three assists and four steals.

The loss drops Bethel to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC.  Gustavus is also now 2-1 in the conference and overall.  Bethel's next game will be against Carleton at the Robertson Center at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.