ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A strong second half effort from the Bethel University women's basketball team led the Royals to a 62-47 non-conference win Tuesday evening over Wisconsin-River Falls, 62-47. Senior center Hannah Johnson tallied a game-high 18 points and 15 rebounds in her second double-double of the season. Junior forward Taite Anderson added 16 points while Haylee Barker registered a game-high six assists. The Royals remain a perfect 3-0 to start the season, something that has not been done since the 2013-14 season. 

The teams battled back and forth during the first quarter as UWRF (3-3) led a majority of the first quarter. Bethel took their first lead of the game at the 3:18 mark as Haylee Barker laid one up off the glass before UWRF took back the lead at 14-13 to end the quarter.

Bethel reeled off five consecutive points to build its largest lead of the first half at 34-28 with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter. The Falcons ended a three minute scoring drought with a free-throw just before halftime to cut the Royals lead to 34-29.
The Royals never looked back after halftime, outscoring the visiting Falcons 17-7 in the third quarter. Bethel opened up the lead going on a 12-0 run in the final 6:58 of the quarter. Anderson knocked in eight of those 12 points with four straight layups.

UWRF looked to make a comeback in the fourth, but the Bethel defense was too much to handle. The Royals kept the lead in double-digits as they hit their largest margin at 60-44 with just under five to play in the game.

Bethel returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, Nov. 28 as they open up conference play at Augsburg. Tipoff is set for 5:45 p.m.