ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – It's a win that will definitely be looked back on late in the season. The Bethel University women's basketball team overcame a turnover heavy game, 54 combined between the two teams, defeating previous unbeaten Augsburg, 58-52.
 
Already on fire from behind the arc, Autumn Earney hit her third three of the night with 3:15 left in the game giving BU its largest lead of the game at 53-42. Bethel iced the game with late free throws and key rebounds.
 
On the boards, BU came away on top 38-23 and on the offensive end held the edge 12-5. The Royals finished the night 40.8 percent (20-of-49) from the field while holding the Auggies to 38.3 percent (18-of-47).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Augsburg led the opening 4:40 of the game until Colette Duininck's driving layup in the paint off an Auggie turnover put Bethel ahead at 10-8. A lead they wouldn't lose the rest of the way.
• Lydia Hagstrom connected on a three-point play which gave BU a 15-11 advantage after the opening quarter.
• BU's defense forced a nearly three-minute scoring drought of the Auggies before opening up its lead to seven on two occasions in the second quarter.
• Limiting Augsburg to go 8-of-20 from the field in a turnover-heavy half sent the Royals up 29-25 at the break.
 
Second Half
• A low-scoring third quarter saw scoring runs no bigger than five for each team. Each team held the other to three lone field goals, but the difference came at the charity strip where BU was 6-of-7, compared to the Auggies 2-of-4.
• Bethel's lead reached 10 twice courtesy of Anna Garfield. Her driving layup on BU's first possession of the fourth made it 43-33 before she made it 50-40 knocking down a three at the 6:14 mark.
• The Royals forced the Auggies into another near three-minute scoring drought forcing three turnovers in the process.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Emma Schultz provided a team-high 13 points and four steals.
•Anna Garfield chipped in 11 points and four steals.
• Autumn Earney completed the stat sheet with 9 points, three rebounds, three assists and was a plus-10 in 11 minutes of action off the bench.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals remain in MIAC play hosting Hamline Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

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