ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow offensive start untimely falling to No. 25th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus at home, 66-53.
 
The loss drops Bethel to second in the MIAC and elevates the Gusties into first. BU is now 11-6 on the season and 11-3 in league play.
 
After starting out 1-of-11 from the field, the Royals finished the night 32.7 percent from the floor and were 10-of-12 from the stripe. Gustavus shot 40.7 percent from the floor and were 21-of-25 from the free throw line.
 
Gustavus won it in the trenches holding a 38-12 advantage on points in the paint, while Bethel out rebounded the Gusties 32-29.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Gustavus Adolphus opened the game on a 10-2 run before Autumn Earney knocked down her first three of the game with 4:34 to go in the first.
• Held to a lone field goal and going 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, Bethel trailed 17-7 after the opening quarter.
• A turnaround jumper by Earney pulled Bethel within 23-20 just under midway into the second.
• The Royals went on a three-minute scoring drought from that point until a three from Olivia Williams made it 30-23.
• A triple by Anna Garfield followed by a stop on the other end got the Royals within 34-26 at the break.
 
Second Half
• Comeback efforts started midway through the third as Garfield and Colette Duininck hit back-to-back threes making it a two-possession game.
• GAC got the lead back up to seven until Emma Schultz drew a shooting foul that followed by a technical on the Gusties. Schultz hit three of four before on the inbound play Earney's 17-foot jumper made it 44-42 in the closing seconds of the third.
• Courtney Nuest hit one of two free throws making it a one-point game in the opening minute of the fourth, but BU could get no closer.
• Kendal Cox's jumper that made it 53-50 with 4:39 to go would be the Royals only bucket until the final 15 seconds where GAC had grown its margin to double digits.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Off the bench Colette Duininck went 3-for-3 from behind the arc and knocked down a pair of free throws for 11 points.
• Autumn Earney finished with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals look to bounce back Saturday, Jan. 28 traveling to Concordia for a 3 p.m. tip.

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