ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Winning the MIAC regular season title for the second time in program history and first since 1994, the Bethel University women's basketball team holds the top seed in the 2020 MIAC Playoffs and will have home court advantage throughout. The Royals finished 19-1 in league play and will host fourth-seeded Gustavus Adolphus Thursday night in the Robertson Center at 7 p.m. for the MIAC Semifinals.

TICKET INFO
$10 - General Admission
$2 - Students with ID
Free - Children 5 and under
$1 – Bethel students with valid university ID
*MIAC passes accepted

MIAC PLAYOFF BRACKET
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020
No. 3 St. Thomas 68, No. 6 St. Catherine 55  
No. 4 Gustavus 84, No. 5 Hamline 76 
Semifinals | Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 | 7:00 p.m. |
No. 4 Gustavus at No. 1 Bethel
No. 3 St. Thomas at No. 2 Augsburg
Championship | Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 | 3:00 p.m. |
Highest remaining seed will host
 
SCOUTING GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS
The Gusties have made every conference tournament since 2001, making their 20 consecutive appearances the longest in MIAC history. With an 84-76 win over Hamline on Tuesday, Gustavus is making its fifth consecutive appearance in the semifinals making championship appearances in 2017 and 2018.
 
Head coach Laurie Kelly is in her eighth season at the helm of Gustavus program where she has a 148-69 (.682) record. In her 22nd season overall, she has a career record of 362-251 (.591). First-year forward Caitlin Rorman is the Gusties leading scorer with 16.6 points per game which is fourth best in the MIAC. She also ranks ninth in the nation and second in the conference – behind Taite Anderson – in field-goal percentage shooting 60.9 percent.
 
SERIES HISTORY
It will be the 48th meeting all-time since the 1996-97 season between the Royals and Gusties. Bethel trails in the all-time series 11-36 but is currently riding a three-game winning streak over GAC. The Royals completed the season sweep with a 74-58 win at home before picking up an 82-69 win in St. Peter. The teams are an even 5-5 in the last 10 matchups while BU holds a 5-17 record at home against GAC.

BETHEL'S MIAC POSTSEASON HISTORY
The Royals are making their seventh consecutive MIAC Playoff appearance and 11th all-time. Bethel has made it into the semifinals now five of the last seven playoffs with two of those (2015, 2020) coming via a first-round bye with a top two seed. BU holds an all-time playoff record of 5-10 with two wins over Saint Mary's and one against Augsburg, Gustavus and St. Olaf. The Royals are 1-3 against the Gusties during playoff time with the only win coming the 2009 quarterfinals, 75-59.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Royals over the last six seasons (including this year) boast a 59-10 (.855) record inside the Robertson Center. During that stretch BU has had at least 10 wins at home in three of those seasons and are 11-0 this year in front of the home crowd. Dating back to last season the Royals have won 18 straight on their home floor and are tied for the sixth longest active home winning streak in Division III.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Bethel is among the nation's best on both ends of the floor. The Royals are shooting 47 percent from the field which ranks third nationally and their 20.7 scoring margin is 12th. Defensively, BU ranks third in steals with 18.2 a game and are fourth forcing 27.68 turnovers per game.

Individually senior forward Taite Anderson is third in field-goal percentage shooting 64.9 percent for the year. She is averaging 21.3 points per game leading the MIAC and ranking 14th nationally. Haylee Barker leads the MIAC and is sixth nationally with 96 steals while teammate Bella Williams is right behind her with 95. Each are averaging 3.8 steals per game. Makenna Pearson ranks 19th nationally and second in the conference shooting 41.8 percent from behind the arc.

ROYALS IN THE POLLS
Bethel jumped two spots in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll coming in at No. 9. In the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll the Royals found themselves eighth. In the latest West Region rankings the Royals are second behind Wartburg (23-2).