ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University women's basketball team dropped its season opener 76-62 to Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Saturday afternoon inside the Robertson Center.
 
Bethel had three scores in double figures led by Anna Garfield's 16 points. BU shot 36.4 percent compared to the Blugolds 59.2 percent. From charity stripe Bethel was 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) while UW-Eau Claire was 13-fo-21 (61.9 percent). UWEC out rebounded BU by a 34-25 margin.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Forcing the Blugolds to turn it over early, the Royals jumped out to a 6-2 lead.
• Shots started to not fall for the Royals including a near three minute scoring drought late in the first quarter as UW-Eau Claire went ahead. Colette Duininck cashed in from downtown pulling BU within 15-13.
• The teams traded buckets as Bethel found themselves down 17-15 despite forcing 10 turnovers in the first quarter.
•  Back-to-back midway threes midway through the second for Eau Claire gave them their biggest lead of the half at 31-20.
• The Blugolds continued to take find the bottom of the next while BU was limited to 5-fo-15 shooting in the second quarter and went into the locker room down 39-28.
• Bethel was held to 34.4 percent (12-of-35) shooting from the field while the Blugolds shot 69.6 percent (16-of-23).
 
Second Half
• The Royals were held to one field and goal and a pair of free throws through the first five minutes as UW-Eau Claire built a 48-32 lead.
• Anna Garfield's 3-point play with 2:48 left pulled BU within 12 while free throws the rest of the way kept BU in reach. But UWEC cashed in from downtown in the final 10 seconds putting the Royals down 60-44 after three.
• BU got as close as 10 at 70-60 with two minutes left as Garfield knocked down her only three of the night.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Anna Garfield led the team with 16 points.
• Colette Duininck added 15 points and four assists.
• Off the bench, Elly Schmitz had 15 points with four rebounds and six steals.  
 
UP NEXT
The four-game homestand to open up the season continues on Tuesday with Bethel hosting Augsburg at 7 p.m.

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