BOX SCORE
SAINT PAUL – After a three-game skid, Bethel University's women's basketball squad overcame a 50-40 deficit with four minutes to play in its 60-58 win over Hamline University Saturday. The Royals salvaged 45 percent shooting from the floor in the second half after shooting just 15 percent in the first frame. BU also made the game close with its strong performance from the free-throw line, finishing 15-of-19 for the game.
Bethel started the game with the lead throughout the opening four minutes of the half, however, the Pipers closed the gap when evening the game at 14-14 with 8:33 to play in the first period. Hamline was relentless the rest of the opening frame, going on a 9-0 run near the end of the frame that gave HU the 27-18 lead going into the locker room.
The Pipers utilized a 14-4 advantage in points in the paint to go into the half with the nine point lead. The Royals out-rebounded HU in the opening 20 minutes 26-22, which led to a 4-0 advantage in second chance points.
Hamline extended its lead to 11 early in the second before BU mounted its game-changing comeback. At the 12:40 mark
Kelly Swenson (Jr., Dawson, Minn.) drained a bucket from the floor that capped a 15-5 run, bringing the Royals to within one. Bethel didn't give itself any favors in the next four minutes when the Pipers scored nine unanswered points, stretching its lead to 43-33. HU maintained its lead until the four-minute mark, cueing BU's 20-5 run in the final minutes of the contest that led to the Royal's 60-58 victory.
Bethel outscored the Pipers 6-2 in the paint and finished with more points-off-turnovers. Head Coach
Jon Herbrechtsmeyer's bench also outscored the HU bench 10-3 throughout the frame.
Taylor Sheley (Sr., Backus, Minn.) put on a clinic in the second-half pouring in 18 of her game-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes. Sheley finished a double-double in Saturday's matinee with 13 rebounds, alongside two assists and two steals.
Kelly Swenson finished the MIAC affair with 11 points, two boards, two assists, and a steal.
Alicia Montbriand (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) added eight points and nine rebounds herself, hitting a clutch three-pointer down the stretch.
The Royals will face St. Thomas Monday in a conference battle at the Robertson Center Gym. Tip-off between the two is set for 7:30 p.m.
