MOORHEAD, Minn.—Wednesday's MIAC contest against Concordia College was a tale of two halves and, unfortunately for Bethel, the Cobbers won the second half, which ultimately led to BU's 56-68 loss in Moorhead.
 
The Royals closed out the opening period on an 11-0 run in the final 1:25 to bolster a 31-20 lead at the midway mark, but Concordia, who improved to 4-1 in loop play with the triumph, began the second frame on a 20-7 run and never looked back. The Cobbers, who shot just 28 percent from the floor in the first half, utilized 43 percent shooting in the second to outscore BU 48-20 in the closing 20 minutes.
 
Bethel meanwhile shook their cold stretch last Saturday against Saint Benedict by pouring in 52 percent of their shots fired in the initial period, but managed to make just 29 percent in the second half, including a 1-of-8 mark from long range.
 
The Royals, who have been plagued by free-throw shooting this season, continued to struggle from the charity stripe Wednesday, making just 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the foul line. Their fortune at the stripe mirrored their shooting from the floor in the second half, as BU was just 8-of-15 in that stretch.
 
Sydney Shultz had an exceptional first half, starting 3-of-4 from downtown for nine points alongside two rebounds and on steal in her 10 minutes played during the first half. However, Shultz cooled off in the second period and finished with 10 total points.
 
Kalli Zimmermann completed her second double-double of the season thanks to 14 points and 12 rebounds. Zimmermann, who was 6-of-13 from the floor, also swiped three steals. Hannah Niewald and Shanni Morse added eight points in the loss.
 
The Royals biggest advantage in Wednesday's conference matchup was their size down low, outscoring the Cobbers 34-20 in the paint. But Concordia out-hustled Bethel, as the Cobbs rolled to a 28-16 margin in points off turnovers, an 18-8 spread in second-chance points, and a 21-11 gap in bench points.
 
BU's second straight loss drops the Royals to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in the MIAC. Bethel, who is 3-4 away from the Robertson Center, will attempt to shake its road woes Saturday, when they travel to Augsburg College for a 1 p.m. tipoff against the Auggies.