ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel Royals (14-6, 9-4 MIAC) added another "W" to the win column after they defeated Saint Mary's (12-8, 7-6 MIAC) with a final score of 80-62. The Robertson Center was electric as two evenly matched teams went at it, trading buckets in the first half. A strong fourth quarter gave BU the edge and handed them their second straight win.

Hannah Johnson led the charge in the first half on both sides of the ball. She scored 10 of the Royals' 25 total first half points and added six blocks. Saint Mary's did a nice job of having active hands and were able to force six steals on Bethel. Neither team shot particularly well in the first, both hovering at around the 35 percent mark. That wouldn't last long for the Royals, however, as they came out firing in the final two frames.

BU came out hot after halftime intermission and shot 69 percent from the field in the second half. They also shot well from behind the arc, making 8-of-12 3's thanks in large part to Abby Miller and Jasmin Bretoi who each hit three a piece after halftime. Saint Mary's Shayley Vesel kept SMU in it with 19 second-half points, but it wasn't enough as BU outscored them 29-13 in the fourth quarter.



Play was exceptionally tight all afternoon, as BU held just a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Jasmin Bretoi burried three fourth-quarter three pointers, however, which gave the Royals great separation down the stretch and more than enough to close out the win over Saint Mary's.

Hannah Johnson and Abby Miller each put up ridiculous stat lines and impacted the game in their own way. Johnson ended up with a triple-double, recording 28 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks, while Miller tallied 24 points and had three assists.

Bethel will take on Hamline University on Wednesday, Feb. 7 in St. Paul at 7 p.m.