Box Score

ST. PAUL—A 3-point shot with 0:00.1 left on the clock was the difference Wednesday night between Bethel University and Hamline—a team destined for the 2013 MIAC Playoffs. The Royals (5-19, 4-17 MIAC) rallied back to take a 69-68 lead with 1:24 left in the ball game, but a 3-pointer by the Pipers' (13,10, 13-7 MIAC) Steph Pilgrim and Kara Poirier gave Hamline the narrow 74-71 victory at Hutton Arena.

Bethel tied its season-high in points scored in a game, shooting 43.6 percent from the floor—including a 57.7 effort in the second half. Additionally, the Royals were just as efficient at the charity stripe, making 17-of-19 shots from the foul line. Yet, despite a strong offensive performance, BU also let up its second-highest points defensively. The Pipers' 74 points came on 45 percent shooting.

"I am very proud of how hard we fought and especailly proud of how hard we played to come from behind a number of occasions," said head women's basketball coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer. "I really thought we were going to play an overtime, but their last shot fell—something that has happened more than once against us."
 
The Royals had a leg up on the glass—outrebounding the Pipers 42-28—which led to a 15-4 advantage in second chance points, but the Pipers capitalized on 17 Bethel turnovers—outscoring BU 25-6 in points off turnovers and 26-16 in points in the paint.
 
Rachel Parupsky (Fr., Arden Hills, Minn.) finished Wednesday's contest with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting—her third straight 20-plus game and eighth overall—while also hauling in eight boards, blocking two shots, and assisting two other buckets. Kelly Swenson (Sr., Dawson, Minn.) also had an exceptional performance—making 4-of-6 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line for 15 points, alongside nine rebounds, and two steals. Katelyn Vavra (Jr., Askov, Minn.) chipped in an additional 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting with four rebounds.

Herbrechtsmeyer was certainly pleased with his team's performance in the end, admitting, "As heart-breaking as it was, I am really proud of the fight this team has developed given what could be."
 
Bethel will close out its season Saturday, when it hosts Macalester on senior day at 1 p.m. The Royals defeated the Scots in the first matchup between the two opponents and are playing to avoid its lowest finish since the 2001-02 season. Live stats and webcasts will be available here.