Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - In their second game of the new year, Bethel University women's basketball team hosted Hamline University for their first match up of the season. The Royals were hoping to get a victory after Saturday's loss to Cobbers, but were unable to pull out a win against the Pipers. The game ended with Hamline at 73 and Bethel at 66.
The Royals fought well against the Pipers, however, despite a few late game turnovers. Bethel matched Hamline basket for basket throughout the game, and at half the score was tied at 33. Contributing to that score was
Annegret Nautsch (Sr., Everett, Wash.) with nine points, as well as
Taylor Sheley (Fr., Backus, Minn.), who also added nine. Nautsch also had five blocks which greatly contributed to the team's defensive stance.
It was in the second half that Hamline began pulling away, but never by much, as they only outscored Bethel by seven points. The Royals' defense kept Hamline's lead to a mininmum, helped in large part by two additional blocks and five defensive rebounds by Nautsch. She also contributed in the offensive realm by adding another nine points to the scoreboard.
Kristen Wolters (Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.) also added 10 points, which brought her total to 13 and also included a four point play with just over a minute left in the game.
Autumn Beasley (Fr., Medina, Minn.) also sunk a three-pointer with just 25 seconds left to bring her night's total to 12 points. That score brought Bethel within four, but the Hamline team kept their cool. And while the Royals fought valiantly at the end, the Pipers were able to hold onto the lead they had secured for themselves.
Standouts in scoring for Hamline include Jackie Kelly and Britta Schwartzhoff, who scored 16 and 14, respectively. Mary Wilkowski contributed a double-double to the effort with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
This loss brings Bethel's overall record to 3-6 with a MIAC record of 2-4. Hamline is now 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the conference. The Royals next match up is scheduled to be Wednesday at St. Thomas at 7:30 p.m.
