EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Early turnovers proved to be costly as the Bethel University women's basketball team dropped a road non-conference game at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Thursday evening, 74-61. Hannah Johnson led the royals with 20 points and seven rebounds while Taite Anderson also grabbed seven rebounds along with 13 points.

Despite outscoring the Blugolds 19-15 in the third the Royals dropped their second game in as many days to fall to 3-2 on the season. Bethel returns to the hardwood Saturday afternoon for a non-conference contest against University of Northwestern inside the Robertson Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

The Royals cut the deficit to 54-43 heading into the final period. With 3:27 left in the third, the UW-Eau Claire bench was whistled for a technical foul following a foul called against the Blugolds. Johnson went to the line knocking down three of the four free throws looking to pull within single digits.

UW-Eau Claire continued its hot shooting in the fourth to keep the lead at double-digits despite narrowly outscoring Bethel in the fourth by a 20-18 margin. The Blugolds went 23-of-45 (51.1 percent) from the field compared to the Royals 20-of-49 (40.8 percent) shooting.

Despite early turnovers Bethel stayed within reach of UW-Eau Claire trailing 17-11 at the end of the first. UW-Eau Claire opened the lead to double-digits with a three from Kelsey Bakken at the 7:30 mark in the second and never looked back from there.