ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University won their ninth-straight game Saturday afternoon thanks to a 73-59 victory over the College of Saint Benedict. The Royals 12 blocked shots helped BU keep the Blazers at under 30 percent shooting from the floor and under 16 percent from outside the 3-point arc.
 
It should come as no surprise now that Bethel is ranked among the Top 12 teams nationwide in field-goal percentage allowed, as opposing teams are being held under 32 percent shooting on the season.
 
CSB's junior phenom Mattie Lueck was able to score 12 points in the opening half, but the Royals limited one of the conference's best players to three points in the final 20 minutes. Where Lueck left off, Parupsky took over.
 
Bethel's forward tallied four points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks in the opening frame, but finished the game with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and seven blocks in the big win for BU.
 
She, along with Kalli Zimmermann and Hannah Niewald, all finished in double figures, as Zimmermann finished with 19 points and four rebounds and Niewald scored 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting and added seven assists.
 
The Royals' bench was sparked by Angie Kirchoff, Kailey Eid, and Lindy Parker throughout the entire game. Together they accumulated 12 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. Parker was a large reason why CSB's Lueck was held to three points in the second half.
 
Bethel finished the game shooting 38 percent from the floor, but an astonishing 60 percent from downtown and 80 percent from the free-throw line. BU outrebounded the Blazers 52-48 and outscored Saint Ben's in the paint 36-24.
 
With the victory in Saturday's matinee Bethel improved to 17-4 overall and 11-3 in loop play. The Royals will take on Macalester College Wednesday night in their final road game of the regular season with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. They then return home for a rematch against the Auggies on Valentine's Day with a men's and women's double-header.