ST. PETER, Minn. – Erasing an 11-point second half deficit, the Bethel University women's basketball team used a big fourth quarter to stay atop the MIAC standings by defeating Gustavus Adolphus 70-66 Wednesday evening on the road.
Bethel (6-4, 6-1 MIAC) trailed 50-39 with 3:09 left in the third quarter before going on a 10-2 pulling within three heading into the final 10 minutes. The Royals kept chipping away at the Gustavus (82-, 5-2 MIAC) lead before a pair of makes at the charity stripe from
Courtney Nuest put them ahead, 63-62, their first lead since the opening minutes of the game, with 2:40 left.
At the free throw line again with under a minute and tied 64-64, Nuest nailed a pair giving BU a lead for good thanks to defensive stops on the other end.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Gustavus came out hot in the first quarter shooting 66.7 percent. The Royals kept it within 20-14 after the 10-minute stretch having knocked down three of its five makes from behind the arc.
• The deficit for BU got as large as nine twice before
Kendal Cox's layup made it 37-30 and both teams went cold from the field in the final minute.
• The Gusties held a 14-9 rebounding edge at the break while shooting 60 percent compared to BU's 48.1 percent.
Second Half
• It was the
Emma Schultz's show in the third quarter as she accounted for 10 of BU's 19 points. That including scoring the Royals' first seven points of the half.
• Gustvus held the Royals without a field goal in the fourth quarter until 6:29 mark as
Lydia Hagstrom knocked down a trey.
•
Anna Garfield used a three pointer and a layup that go the Royals twice within one.
• Up 67-64 with 10 seconds left, BU got the stop it needed as Gustavus missed a step-back game-tying three while Cox corralled the rebound.
• Nuest and Cox combined to go 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the final 2:40.
KEY PERFORMERS
•
Courtney Nuest finished with 20 points, 10 in each half, while bringing in seven rebounds.
•
Emma Schultz finished with 17 points while
Kendal Cox had 13.
•
Anna Garfield had an effective 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
UP NEXT
The Royals return home on Saturday, Jan. 7 hosting St. Olaf for alumni day. Prior to the contest Bethel will honor head coach
Jon Herbrechtsmeyer who was named to the 2022 Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association (
MGBCA) Hall of Fame induction class.
