Box Score
NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Hard to believe, but the last time Bethel defeated Carleton in a game of women's basketball, President Clinton was just starting his second term in office and most, if not all of the Royals current roster members were in elementary school. Nearly 12 years later, the Royals finally snapped a dry spell spanning 21 games by defeating the hosting Carleton Knights by a score of 59-52.
The Royals used a very diverse and spread out scoring attack as a means to their end. Coach
Jon Herbrechtsmeyer used only eight different players, but each player scored at least five points, and no player scored more than 11.
Taylor Sheley (Fr., Backus, Minn.), who, since joining the starting lineup, has been averaging 11.6 points per game, led the charge for the Royals with those 11 points and had seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal as well.
Annegret Nautsch (Sr., Everett, Wash.) tallied eight points and seven rebounds, dropping her below a double-double average for the first time since the third game of the season. However, the leading shot blocker in the nation stuffed four shots tonight to keep her season average at 4.9 blocks per game.
Shana Grejtak (So., Franklin, Minn.) was another top performer tonight by contributing eight points and six rebounds to the cause.
Bethel led by as many as 19 points with just under 14 minutes remaining, but a persistent Knight squad chipped away at their defecit, reducing the Royal lead to just four points with a minute and a half remaining. Fortunately, clutch free throws in the waning moments of the game by Sheley and Grejtack kept Carleton at bay and helped preserve the win.
Carleton's Sarah Lincoln led all scorers with 18 points and also had nine rebounds, a trio of assists, blocks, and steals. Ally Weaver added 12 points to the effort for the Knights.
The win gives Bethel an even 7-7 overall record and a 6-5 MIAC record at the halfway point of the conference schedule. Meanwhile, Carleton drops to 6-8 overall and 5-6 in the conference. The Royals return home to take on another team they have not defeated in more than a decade in Saint Benedict on Wednesday. The scheduled tip-off time is 7:30 p.m. in the Robertson Center gym.
