ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – In its final meeting with St. Thomas as a MIAC opponent, the Bethel University women's basketball team came up short on its own court 67-54.

Senior Elizabeth Schwarz led the way with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Bella Williams added five assists and four steals while Michaela Craigan reeled in a team-high five boards.  

Bethel had a hard time finding the bottom of the net shooting 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the field and only making three of its 18 attempts from behind the arc. St. Thomas didn't miss much shooting 50 percent from the floor (21-of-42) and going 8-for-17 behind the arc.

St. Thomas opened on a 10-2 run before back-to-back buckets from Pearson cut the deficit to 12-7 after the first quarter. A late 6-0 run in the second got Bethel within six before the Tommies laid in a driving layup off the glass taking a 29-21 lead into the break.

Out of the break, BU came out running as an offensive board put back by Schwarz pulled the Royals within 43-31 with 6:21 to go in the third. UST stretched the lead to eight on a few occasions before Bethel ultimately pulled back within four at the end of the quarter.

The Royals struggled to get a 3-ball to fall until Pearson sank one followed up by a layup from Williams making it 55-54. UST's defense picked things up holding the Royals scoreless for the remaining 2:47 while locking in the win at the charity stripe.

The Royals will have a quick turnaround when they host Gustavus Adolphus Monday at 7 p.m.