ST. PETER, Minn. – Overcoming a slow offensive half start with a big second half performance, the Bethel University women's basketball team earned a key MIAC victory over Gustavus Adolphus Saturday afternoon on the road, 53-47.
 
Bethel (10-6, 9-4 MIAC) responded to its 19 percent first half shooting with 50 percent in the second half. Defensive efforts ramped up holding Gustavus (11-3, 9-2 MIAC) to 1-of-16 behind the arc and 26 percent from the floor for the game.
 
Makenna Pearson led the balanced scoring attack with 12 points while Hayden Glander added 10 points and six boards. Courtney Nuest saw all nine of her points come in the second with Anna Garfield scoring all nine of hers in the first.
 
Nuest scored the Royals first fix points of the third pulling them within one after only trailing 20-16 at the break. At the 5:39 mark, Nuest gave BU the lead for good at 28-25 dialing in from long distance.
 
The Gusties pulled within one just before the quarter break, but it was Kat Brown-Erdal knocking down one of BU's four treys beating the buzzer moving the advantage to 35-31.
 
Glander stepped up in the fourth with a three and some free throws as the Royals lead grew to nine. Pearson's layup with 1:32 remaining in the game put BU's lead into double digits before the final five points came at the free throw line.
 
Poor shooting on Bethel's end allowed Gustavus Adolphus to close out the first quarter on a 5-0 run. A Bethel scoring drought that stretched from the mid first to the early parts of the second quarter was ended as Garfield hit a pair of free throws.
 
The tough stretch continues for the Royals Wednesday traveling to MIAC-leading Augsburg for a 7 p.m. tip. Read Full Article