Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Bethel snapped a six game winless streak by defeating the St. Olaf Oles 77-64 at the Robertson Center tonight.

Erica Hormig (So., Windom, Minn.) had a stellar performance, leading the Royals with 24 points - 15 of which came in the second half.  She also sank her first three-pointer of the season, helping Bethel shoot 5-for-8 from the perimeter in the first half.

Three other Royals finished in double figures including Annegret Nautsch (Jr., Seattle, Wash.), who posted her 13th double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds, as well as five blocks.  Kiersten Hansen (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) also scored 14 points and added four assists, three steals, two blocks, and a rebound to her season statistics.

Alexa Grones (Jr., Tamarack, Minn.) scored a season high 10 points by shooting 3-for-5 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc, and 2-for-2 from the line.  Grones also tallied seven assists, mostly by finding the open post down low for some easy layups.

Tonight's game marked the return of Shari Laugen (So., Blaine, Minn.) to the Royals lineup.  Laugen had been sidelined with mono for the past two weeks and was limited to just three minutes, all in the first half.   She finished the night 0-for-1 from the floor, but did have an assist.

Foul trouble doomed two of St. Olaf's starters as starting post Britta Hendrickson fouled out with more than 11 minutes left to play.  Danielle Stoermer fouled out nearly seven minutes later, taking away much of the Oles inside presence.  Hendrickson fouled out with 18 points, and was St. Olaf's leading scorer.  D. Stoermer fouled out with eight points, but 10 rebounds.  Danielle's sister Kristina had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Jamie Erdahl was St. Olaf's third shooter to finish with double figures at 13 points.

The win keeps Bethel's playoff hopes alive and eliminates St. Olaf from post season contention.  The Royals improve to 10-12 overall and 7-12 in MIAC play.  Bethel is still two games out of the sixth and final playoff spot with three games left to play, but faces two teams they have beaten earlier this season, plus Macalester, whom they lost to by one point in the final minute.  St. Olaf falls to 7-15 overall and 6-13 in the conference.  The Royals will travel to Winona, Minn., to take on Saint Mary's at 1 p.m. this Saturday for their next game.