BOX SCORE
ARDEN HILLS, Minn.- After trailing 41-22 at the half, the Bethel University womens basketball squad nearly pulled off the unthinkable Monday night in the Robertson Center Gym when falling 68-66 to the undefeated (in MIAC play) Tommies of St. Thomas. The Royals utilized a 44-27 second-half effort to pull within the UST danger zone, but couldnt close out the monumental come-from-behind victory despite having the ball with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
Throughout the first half each team maintained a balanced attack over the first 13 minutes. The Royals capitalized on four three-pointers by Alicia Montbriand (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) within the first 13 minutes, yet still trailed St. Thomas 21-16 with 7:40 to play. UST was a well-oiled machine from there, expanding its five-point lead to 19 on a 23-2 run to close out the period.
The Tommies, who overwhelm teams with its balanced attack and defensive aggression, captured 26 points in the paint and 14 points off turnovers alone in the first period. The White and Purple also outrebounded the Royals 22-10, earning St. Thomas a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points. Furthermore, displaying its team equality, UST composed 17 bench points in the 44-point effort.
That was the first half, however.
UST extended its 19-point lead to 21 and kept it in tact until the 15-minute mark, when the Royals exhausted its opponents and trickled back to reality. Penetration on offense and excruciating defense forced numerous St. Thomas errors, and an infiltration of BU points. Trailing by 21, Bethel manufactured a 10-0 run that brought the Royals to within 11 thanks to a handful of Taylor Sheley (Sr., Backus, Minn.) three-point plays. The Tommies managed to stretch the point margin back to 15 with 9:28 to play, however, it was then that BU went crazy. After just living a 20-5 comeback last Saturday over Hamline the Royals were poised to do it again, with an 18-5 streak that brought Bethel to within two with 56 seconds remaining in the game. One more Sheley three-point play brought BU to within one, yet it wasnt quite enough as a UST free throw ended the game in the Tommies favor, 68-66.
In the second period, Bethel outscored St. Thomas 16-8 in points in the paint, 9-4 in points off turnovers, and 7-4 in bench points. Putting on a second-half scoring clinic, Taylor Sheley shined in the final 20 minutes with 28 points and four rebounds. The Royals finished the period 16-of-29 from the floor, finishing with a field goal mark of 55 percent.
BU showcased that they could play with the 11-0 Tommies Monday night, as each team finished nearly equal in all categories. The Royals ended the game shooting 45 percent from the floor, including 41 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Perhaps Bethels biggest weakness was its inability to outrebound UST, falling in the category 36-26. Those second-chance opportunities lead to a 16-5 advantage for St. Thomas in second-chance points. The Tommies only averaged 10 turnovers a game, however, and the Royals forced them into 17 blemishes throughout the contest.
Sheley was a monster tonight, finishing the game with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, a block, and a steal. She was aided by Alicia Montbriand, who finished five-of-seven from the floor-with all shots being long range-for 15 points and three rebounds.
The Royals host Saint Catherine Wednesday in the Robertson Center Gym, where Bethel looks to punish the Wildcats with the same intensity it displayed Monday against St. Thomas. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
