Box Score

ST. PAUL—The Bethel University women's basketball team bounced back from their first conference loss of the season Wednesday night with an exceptional 68-53 road win over St. Catherine University. The Royals (10-2, 8-1 MIAC) utilized a 40-30 second-half advantage to top the hosting Wildcats (2-9, 1-7 MIAC) and 13 offensive rebounds to stay in the mix at the top of the conference standings.
 
After cashing in on 19 points against Hamline last Saturday, outside threat Katelyn Vavra responded with another sensation performance Wednesday. Vavra was 4-of-9 from long range and 5-of-10 from the floor for 16 total points, two assists, and two steals. Vavra hit three shots from downtown between the 14- and 10-minute mark of the second half, which helped push Bethel's margin back to nine.
 
Kalli Zimmermann wracked up 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half alone, but just missed her fifth double-double of the season—finishing the night with 16 points and nine boards. Her sophomore teammate, Rachel Parupsky, also just missed a double-double. Parupsky was the third BU player in double figures with 12 points, but she too, grabbed nine rebounds. Sydney Schultz added eight points with a pair of buckets beyond the 3-point arc.
 
Perhaps the most notable key to the Royals success against the Wildcats Wednesday was their accuracy at the charity stripe. In the second half alone, BU was 12-of-13 and made their final 12 shots from the foul line. Bethel made 21-of-26 free throws throughout the game.
 
BU's defense forced SCU into 16 turnovers, thanks in part to eight steals. Jon Herbrechtsmeyer and his squad scored 15 points off turnovers, while also letting their advantage in offensive rebounds lead to a 9-6 margin in second-chance points.
 
St. Catherine's Jenna Mistler came off the bench to score 17 points to lead all scorers.
 
The Royals return home Saturday to face Augsburg College in a matinee double header that features both the women and the men. The women will tipoff at 1 p.m., followed by the men.