ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University women's basketball team ended a two-game skid on Saturday afternoon by defeating the College of Saint Benedict by a final score of 62-55. The victory marks the second conference win of the season for Bethel and their fourth overall.
The Royals [4-4, 2-2 MIAC] led the Blazers [6-3, 2-2 MIAC] by seven after the first quarter but could only muster 10 points in the second period. The Blazers clawed their way back to a one-point deficit heading into halftime, largely due to their performance at the free-throw line where they made 11 of 12 attempts.
Saint Benedict proceeded to take the lead midway through the third quarter and looked to be pulling away before the Royals manufactured an exceptional 18-2 run at the end of the frame and the beginning of the fourth.
Rachel Parupsky and Kalli Zimmerman who was making her season debut, led the Royals to an 11-point advantage with 6:51 remaining and cruised to a seven-point victory.
Bethel ultimately made the necessary stops on the defensive end and came out with the win.
Molly O'Toole notched her third consecutive double-double at home behind a game-high 18 points, while Parupsky filled the stat sheet with 11 points, 10 rebounds, seven blocks, and five assists.
Kalli Zimmermann scored 12 points in just 13 minutes of play.
Altogether, BU shot 49.0 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from outside the arc. Bethel's defense limited the Blazers to 30.2 percent shooting and 6.7 percent from downtown. The Royals dominated the paint, outscoring CSB 34-26 inside.
Bethel will not take the court again until December 27th, when they will travel to Las Vegas for the D3Hoops.com Classic. Their next home contest will be on January 4, 2016, when they take on the University of Northwestern at 7 p.m. in the Robertson Center.
