ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The No. 11-ranked Bethel University women's basketball team used an explosive second half to pull away from the College of St. Benedict Saturday, winning the regular season finale 79-53. The victory completes a season sweep of the Bennies and rounds out the Royals' record to 24-1 and 19-1 in conference play.
 
Seniors Taite Anderson and Haylee Barker were catalysts in both halves of the game. Bethel jumped out to a 23-12 lead in the first quarter behind seven points and three steals from Barker, while Anderson scored seven herself, including a three-pointer in the opening minute.
 
Both offenses slowed down in the second frame, fouls piling up and shots being missed. At the halftime buzzer Bethel held a 30-22 advantage and the contest felt like it would be close most of the second half.
 
A Royal three-point barrage ended that assumption quickly in the third quarter. Two triples from Makenna Pearson and one from Anderson pushed the advantage back into double digits and Bethel cruised the rest of the way, winning 79-53.
 
Anderson scored 24 points and corralled nine rebounds. She finished the game one point away from tying the Bethel women's basketball single-season scoring record of 511 points, set by Allison Rostberg in 1991. Haylee Barker stuffed the stat sheet again with 12 points, six assists and five steals in 19 minutes of play. Four other Royals scored at least seven points, balancing out a collective offensive attack.
 
The Royals held St. Ben's to 29.8 percent shooting (17-for-57) and 21.4 percent from beyond the arc (3-for-14).
 
Bethel's playoff push begins Thursday in the MIAC semifinals at home against an opponent to be determined. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Robertson Center.