ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—For the second consecutive season Bethel University's women's basketball team won their opening game of the MIAC Playoffs, only this year the Royals reward will be a shot at the conference title. BU's championship tilt—their first-ever in program history—with St. Thomas Saturday, February 28 at 3 p.m. is a result of the Royals 72-56 victory at home over Saint Mary's Thursday evening.
 
"I was very proud of our team's effort," said head coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer. "We really came out and executed our game plan well, especially on defense in the second half. Altogether, tonight's win means a lot to our program."
 
Bethel led by just five points with 11:09 remaining in the game, which was the same advantage they carried into the intermission break. But over the next eight minutes BU went on a 17-4 run that squashed any hope the Cardinals had of handing the Royals a second postseason loss in as many seasons. Three clutch 3-pointers by three different players spurred Bethel on during that stretch.
 
The Cardinals were limited to 29.7 percent shooting throughout the entire contest, including a 4-of-12 mark from outside the arc. BU outrebounded Saint Mary's 52-43, which helped the Royals outscore SMU in second-chance points 21-12. The Cards, however, were able to outscore Bethel 30-24 in the paint and 15-5 off the bench.

The Royals starting five took over the game, as junior Rachel Parupsky and Kalli Zimmermann each finished with a double-double and two others scored in double figures. Parupsky's night featured 21 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks, while Zimmermann added 19 points, 10 boards, three assists, and three blocks.

Sydney Schultz dropped 12 points from the wing and Hannah Niewald tallied 11, alongside seven rebounds and four steals. Shanni Moorse scored four and ripped down seven boards in addition to Angie Kirchoff, who poured in five points off the bench—including a critical 3-pointer in the second half.

Saint Mary's Molly O'Toole had a game-high 25 points—21 alone in the first half— and 11 rebounds, however, despite six other players scoring no one else reached double figures.

Because the MIAC changed their regular season scheduling this year so that teams within the league could play more than three nonconference games Bethel met No. 2-ranked St. Thomas just once. That game resulted in a 77-81 loss in the Robertson Center Gym, but the Royals will get their second chance on Saturday afternoon. The tournament's top-ranked teams will go head-to-head at 3 p.m. for the title and the automatic qualifier into the 2015 NCAA Division III Tournament.