Box Score

ST. JOSEPH, Minn.—Fresh off the first victory of the season, Bethel University's women's basketball nearly pulled off a conference upset Wednesday night against Saint Benedict, but fell just short 57-65.
 
Leading 21-8 early on, it looked as if the Blazers (7-3, 5-2 MIAC) were primed to run away with its fifth victory of the conference season, but the Royals (1-8, 0-6 MIAC) fought back to narrow the gap 43-41 with 14:37 to play in the game. CSB went on a 11-2 run over the next five minutes, however, which proved to be too much for Bethel to overcome.
 
Rachel Parupsky (Fr., Arden Hills, Minn.) and Kately Vavra (Jr., Askov, Minn.) continued the trend of double figures in Wednesday's MIAC matchup. Parupsky finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, while Vavra went 3-for-8 from downtown for 11 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes played. The double-digit points is the third consecutive game for Vavra (and fifth overall), while Parupsky tallied her fifth straight (and has put up double figures in all but one of the eight games played).
 
The Royals were held to just 31.3 shooting, while the Blazers edged BU with a 37.1 shooting mark. Bethel's biggest advantage came on second chance points, as its 16 offensive rebounds led to a 18-10 lead in second chance points.
 
Bethel will return home this Saturday still looking for its first conference win, as St. Olaf College comes to the Robertson Center Gym for a 1 p.m. matinee followed by a 3 p.m. showdown between the men. The Ole's dropped a 61-59 heartbreaker to Concordia in Northfield Wednesday night after leading by 27 points in the second half.