The Bethel University women’s basketball team is set to kick off its 25-game schedule for the 2022-23 season Friday, Nov. 11 taking on Wisconsin-Oshkosh at the Eau-Claire Tip Off Classic with a 6 p.m. tipoff. BU takes on the host Blugolds Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The Royals are coming off a 19-8 year with a 17-5 MIAC mark where they finished third. 

Bethel returns 10 players, three starters, and welcomes three newcomers in its freshman class. Returning is the Royals top scorer in Hayden Glander (12.8 ppg) to go along with Courtney Nuest who was third on the team last year at 10.6 points per game. 

As a squad, BU was the MIAC's best scoring squad averaging 68.9 points. On the defensive side of the ball they were second giving up 54.7, being only behind MIAC Playoff Champion Gustavus Adolphus. From the floor they shot a MIAC-leading 43.5 percent and held its opponent to 35.5 percent. A strong defensive effort BU has the best turnover margin at 4.52 forcing its opponent into an average 23.8 compared to its 19.3 mark.

The Royals schedule this year boasts 11 home games with the home opener scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16 hosting Carleton in the MIAC opener. Since the 201314 season BU is 86-26 (.843) in front of its home crowd.

Following this weekend's trip across the border, BU's final non-conference matchup will be at Wisconsin-Whitewater on Dec. 30.

It's the 37th season of Bethel under the NCAA umbrella going back to the 1986-87 season. In that stretch BU holds an all-time record of 494-409 (.547) and are 398-332 in MIAC play (.545).

KEY RETURNERS

In the key returners department, Hayden Glander returns as the Royals leading scorer at 12.8 points per game. She was fourth in the MIAC shooting 68.8 percent from the charity stripe and was seventh with 27 blocks. 

Courtney Nuest was one of the top defenders with 63 steals last year that ranked sixth in the MIAC. She ranked 13th in the MIAC at 10.6 points per game. Anna Garfield was a top four shot blocker in the MIAC with 29 and was 15th with 43 steals.