MOORHEAD, Minn.-The Bethel University women's basketball team had won six of their last seven contests coming into Tuesday night's MIAC Playoff quarterfinal in Moorhead, with their only loss being a two-point overtime setback against Top-10 ranked St. Thomas. But the Royals (17-9, 12-6 MIAC) met the Cobbers (18-8, 13-5 MIAC) from Concordia College, who had won nine out of their last 11 and seven of their last eight at home.

Concordia used the home crowd energy of Memorial Auditorium to build a 14-point lead at the half and, despite an up-and-down third and fourth quarter, managed to maintain a nine-point margin at the final buzzer.

Unfortunately for BU, the Cobbers finished the game shooting 58.0 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from outside the 3-point arc. Concordia shot 18-for-25 in the opening half (72%). Senior Olivia Johnson recorded a game-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, alongside 12 rebounds. Johnson's sidekick Jenna Januschka tacked on 17 points and seven boards in 33 minutes played.

The Royals had nothing to be ashamed of though, as they converted 29-of-58 shot attempts (50.0%) throughout the game including a 5-of-13 mark from downtown. Kalli Zimmermann, who just scored her 1,000th career point at Bethel last Saturday, led BU with 18 points and four rebounds.

Three others finished with double figures, including Rachel Parupsky, Molly O'Toole, and Abby Miller. Parupsky recorded 13 points and four rebounds in her final college game, while O'Toole tallied 12 and Miller added 10.

Rebounding proved to be the key difference between these two competitors, as Concordia outrebounded Bethel 38-22.

The season-ending loss will force the Royals to say goodbye to a trio of seniors that have brought Bethel to new heights. Prior to their arrival, it had been nearly 20 years since they had posted a 20 win season or reached the NCAA Tournament. With their help, however, BU posted consecutive 20-win seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament at the end of last season.