ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's women's basketball team won their third straight game thanks to a 59-47 win over St. Olaf College in their MIAC opener Wednesday evening. It was an up-and-down game throughout the entire 40 minutes of play, but the Royals' (4-1, 1-0 MIAC) posted a 17-9 advantage in the opening quarter, which proved to be the main separator against the Oles (2-4, 0-1 MIAC). 
 
BU opened the game with a 12-4 run in the opening quarter, which allowed them an eight-point cushion after the first frame. St. Olaf cut the Royals' lead to one with 6:28 remaining in the second, but Bethel ended the quarter on a 14-5 run and went into the locker room with a 31-21 lead at the intermission break. 
 
Bethel quickly stretched its lead to 16 with 7:48 left in the third quarter, but a 7-0 run for the Oles kept things close heading into the final frame. The Royals heightened their advantage back to 15 with 8:54 remaining in the game, but St. Olaf then went on a 20-5 run over the next five minutes before BU closed out the game with a 9-2 advantage.
 
The roller coaster ride saw four players foul out and 49 total fouls. The Royals, who posted 10 steals in the first half, finished the game with 13, which led to an 8-0 difference in fast-break points and a 15-10 margin in points off of turnovers. BU also took advantage of the Oles with their size, as they outscored St. Olaf 30-18 in the paint.
 
Six players on the Bethel lineup scored seven or more points, including Jasmin Bretoi, Hannah Johnson, and Hannah Simpson, who all came off the bench. As a result, BU outscored the Oles bench 25-8.
 
Abby Miller led the Royals with 14 points and two rebounds, while Bretoi recorded 10 points and two steals. Taite Anderson's minutes were limited due to foul trouble, but the freshman still managed to score nine points and haul down eight rebounds.
 
Kalli Zimmermann was one point away from her second double-double of the season, as the senior manufactured nine points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and six steals. Hannah Johnson finished with eight points and four rebounds, while Hannah Simpson added seven points and three boards.
 
St. Olaf's Michelle Lother led all players with 21 points, while Makenna Ash tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Bethel looks to stay unbeaten Saturday, when they travel down Snelling Ave. to face Hamline University in Hutton Arena at 1 p.m.