Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. - Bethel opened up a 12-point lead in the first half of today's basketball game, only to have the hosting Gustavus Gusties come back and overtake the Royals in a 64-56 loss.

The Royals made nearly 50% of their shots in the first half and were fueled by 11 points from Taylor Sheley (So., Backus, Minn.) before Gustavus scored the last eight points of the first half and the first six points of the second half. Sheley would go on to finish with 20 points to lead Bethel.

In the second half, Bethel was 3-for-4 from behind the arc, but only 7-for-19 from the field overall. Turnovers again proved costly for the Royals, who had 12 miscues compared to just six for the Gusties. Gustavus outscored Bethel 26-16 off of those turnovers.

Scotti Moats (Fr., Waconia, Minn.) scored 13 points and Kristen Wolters (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.) tallied 11 to help the cause. Shana Grejtak (Jr., Franklin, Minn.) was the game's leading rebounder with 12, and also had three blocks and a steal in her 29 minutes.

Molly Mathiowetz led the Gusties with 17, while Brianna Radtke scored 12.

The loss drops Bethel to 8-12 in the MIAC and 9-14 overall, while the Gusties retain sole possession of first place in the conference with the win. They are now 19-4 (17-3). Bethel has one more game on the road before returning home for the final regular season game of the season. The Royals will take on Augsburg on Wednesday in Minneapolis at 7:30 p.m.