ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Senior guard
Haylee Barker scored a career-best 20 points Wednesday against St. Catherine. She immediately upped that mark by pouring in 24 points Saturday, leading the No.5-ranked Bethel University women's basketball team to an 82-41 victory against Macalester.
The win locks Bethel into a MIAC Playoff spot with seeding still to be determined through the Royals six remaining conference games.
Barker also tallied seven assists and three steals. She was flanked by
Kat Brown-Erdal and
Elizabeth Schwarz, who added 12 points apiece, and
Emma Schultz, who provided 11 points off the bench.
Bethel (19-0, 14-0 MIAC) jumped out to a 14-3 lead quickly, but by the end of the first quarter, the Scots cut the game to 20-12. Three-pointers from
Makenna Pearson and
Michaela Craigan cushioned the early offensive burst.
Then Barker and Brown-Erdal each hit a triple to open the second quarter and keep the lead in double figures for good. Barker scored 11 of her 24 in the second frame. By halftime, the score was 46-24.
Efficient ball movement and finishing plays at the rim was the name of the second half, plus the usual dose of relentless defensive pressure from the Royal guards. Bethel held Macalester to six points in the third quarter and 17 for the entire half. The bench rotation picked up where the starters left off in the fourth quarter and closed out the game by a score of 82-41.
Bethel shot 51.5 percent (35-for-68) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from beyond the arc. The defense forced 32 Scot turnovers and converted them into 30 points.
The Royals face off against Concordia-Moorhead in the second game of a men's/women's doubleheader at the Robertson Center on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.
