Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. - The Royals led a tough Gustavus team 46-38 at the half, making 16 of their 25 shots, including 5-for-8 from the perimeter.  However, they could not sustain their lead in the second half and fell by a score of 77-67. 

Gabriella Gustafson (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.) led Bethel with 18 points, raising her season average to just over 15 points per game.  The Royals played well despite not having starting guard Shari Laugen (So., Blaine, Minn.) or Kristen Wolters (So., St. Cloud, Minn.).  That allowed Jess Gilpin (So., St. Francis, Minn.) to step up and become the Royals sixth player.  Gilpin finished the night with a career best 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting, all from behind the arc.

The Gusties found a way to cool down Kiersten Hansen (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) who had scored 70 points in her last four games, limiting her to just seven points.  Foul trouble also played a part as the starting guard only played 18 minutes on the night.

Annegret Nautsch was also limited to just 2-for-4 shooting from the floor and 3-for-6 from the line for seven points.  She did, however, come down with 12 rebounds, keeping her on par with her conference leading season rebounding average.  Nautsch did not block any shots, nor did any Royals for that matter, as foul trouble also limited her playing time.  The starting center had risen to the fourth leading shot blocker in the nation prior to tonight's game.

Gustavus' Jess Vadnais again proved why she's one of the premier guards in the conference by scoring 23 points, of which 12 came from the free throw line.

Despite the loss, the Royals stay tied with the Hamline Pipers, who were defeated by St. Thomas this evening, for the sixth and final playoff spot with eight games left to play.  Bethel now holds a 9-8 record overall and 6-8 record in the MIAC.  Meanwhile, Gustavus improves to 11-6 overall and 10-4 in conference play.  Bethel returns home to take on first place Saint Benedict this Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Robertson Center for their next game.