ST. PAUL, Minn. – A strong second half performance from the Bethel University women's basketball team earned the Royals a 71-37 season opening win Friday night at Northwestern. Bethel turned its three-point halftime lead into a 34-point victory outscoring the Eagles 34-13 in the final 20 minutes.

With 11 different players finding the scoring column, junior Makenna Pearson led the way with a game-high 14 points going 5-of-10 from the field. Senior Taite Anderson had an even stat line with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Getting her first collegiate start, Kat Brown-Erdahl chipped in four assists, four steals and five points.

It's the 12th time under 17th-year head coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer that the Royals begin the season over .500. The Royals open up the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 12 against Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Robertson Center.

The Royals began opening the flood gates with a 17-1 run in the third quarter. Northwestern's lone point came with 34 seconds left sinking the back end of a two shot attempt from the chairty stripe. Eight of the Royals 21 steals came in the third.

Bethel put the finishing touches on the victory shooting 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the field in the fourth quarter. Three balls from Pearson and Bella Williams set the tone for BU, outscoring UNW 27-12 in the final quarter.

A 3-pointer from Erin Tupy gave Bethel a 14-11 lead after the opening 10 minutes. UNW took back the lead at 17-14 with 6:03 left to go in the first half. The Royals chipped away at the deficit with Pearson dialing in from long distance sending Bethel into the locker room with a 27-24 lead at the break.