Box Score

WINONA, Minn. - Bethel kept their playoff hopes alive with a 75-68 win over Saint Mary's on the road today.  The Royals led for almost the entire game, never trailing by more than two points.

Alexa Grones (Jr., Tamarack, Minn.) more than doubled her previous season best performance by scoring 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor, including 4-for-5 from behind the arc.  The starting point guard was also 6-for-8 from the free throw line.  Grones had scored 10 points in a game on two previous occasions, including Wednesday night's win over St. Olaf.

Kiersten Hansen (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.) was also 6-for-8 from the free throw line and finished with 14 points as Bethel's next highest scorer.  Annegret Nautsch was the third and final Royal to finish in double figures with 12.  Nautsch also added eight rebounds and six blocks to her conference leading totals for both categories.

Four of the Cardinals five starters finished with double digit point totals, including Jess Weisbrod with 21 points.   The senior forward was 10-for-15 shooting from the floor and had nine rebounds, and three blocks.

Bethel improves to 8-12 in the MIAC and 11-12 overall with the win.  They pull within a game of Hamline, who lost to Saint Benedict today, for the sixth and final playoff spot with two games left to go.  Saint Mary's falls to 3-17 in conference play and 4-19 overall.  The Royals will stay on the road to play Macalester at 7:45 p.m. next Wednesday night for their next game.