Box Score

ST. JOSEPH, Minn.—Bethel University's women's basketball squad sent a message to the conference Saturday, as a 46-27 start to their contest against the College of Saint Benedict led to a 72-58 victory in Saturday's matinee at Claire Lynch Hall.
 
That message was simply this: we can win on the road. Coming into the matchup, the Royals (13-5, 11-4 MIAC) had lost four of the last five road games, and the Blazers (10-7, 7-7 MIAC) had won five of their last seven overall competitions. Bethel's victory completed the series sweep over CSB, a feat that hasn't happend for at least 30 years. 
 
The anticipated matchup began with a 20-5 surge for BU in the final seven minutes of the opening frame. Leading just 26-22 with 7:06 left in the half, the spark for Bethel pushed their advantage to 46-27 at the midway point of the game. Shanni Moorse scored six points for the Royals in that span, including four on fast breaks. Moorse finished the half with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while freshman sidekick Kalli Zimmermann joined the double-digit (10) party in the opening period.

Bethel shot 60 percent in the half, going 20-of-33 from the floor and 3-of-4 from downtown. Katelyn Vavra buried 2-of-2 shots from outside the arc. The Royals held on to their halftime lead and finished the game with a 14-point advantage.
 
Leading the way for BU was both Moorse and Zimmermann, who each notched 16 points—for Moorse a career high. Moorse tallied eight rebounds, while Zimmermann added five. Rachel Parupsky finished the league affair with 14 points and six rebounds. Zimmermann and Parupsky have scored in double figures 15 and 14 times this season, respectively.
 
As a unit, Bethel finished the game shooting 50 percent (29-of-58) from the floor and 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from outside the arc. The Royals outrebounded the Blazers 41-33 and outscored them in the paint 38-30. Perhaps the most recognizable came in total bench points, as BU finished the competition with 30 bench points, opposed to CSB's nine.
 
The Royals improve to 12-4 with the win and rise into a two-way tie with Concordia College, who fell on the road to Saint Mary's today 69-72. BU has seven matchups remaining throughout the regular season, including four on their home court. The final seven contests begin with a head-to-head duel against Carleton Monday night in the Robertson Center Gym at 7:30 p.m.