Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Royals were denied a much-needed victory tonight, as Macalester emerged victorious 48-40 at St. Catherine's Butler Center tonight.  The combined 88 points is the lowest scoring game Bethel has been a part of in more than seven seasons.

Bethel held an 18-12 lead at halftime as Macalester shot just 2-for-28 from the floor in the first half.  However, it was in the second half that the Scots increased their defensive efforts, forcing the Royals to turn the ball over 12 times for a total of 24 in the game.

Annegret Nautsch (Jr., Seattle, Wash.) was held to just four points on the night, but she did come down with 15 rebounds and blocked seven shots to add to her conference leading totals in those categories.  Shari Laugen (So., Blaine, Minn.) was the Royals leading scorer with 10 points.  Laugen's return was welcomed as she had only seen three minutes of playing time in the last three weeks due to an illness.

Macalester was led by Trina PaStarr and Ann Baltzer who both finished the night with 15 points, despite only scoring four points each in the first half.

The loss drops Bethel to 11-13 overall and 8-13 in the MIAC, mathematically eliminating them from playoff contention.  Macalester improves to 9-15 overall and 8-13 in conference play as well.  The Royals will play their final game of the 2007-08 campaign on Saturday against Augsburg at home beginning at 1 p.m.