RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Trailing by one with under three seconds to go, the Bethel University women's basketball team turned it over twice in that stretch as they were dealt a 48-47 loss at Wisconsin-River Falls Friday evening.
 
With the shot clock winding down, Elly Schmitz laid it off the glass tying it at 46-46 with 47.1 to go. With 6.4 left Schmitz hit one of two free throws putting the Royals up one before the Falcons got a layup to go despite three Royal defenders being there to contest with 2.2 left.
 
Bethel (3-5) finished 45.9 percent from the field (17-of-37) while Wisconsin-River Falls (7-1) shot 35.6 percent (16-of-45). The Royals held a slight edge on the boards by a 31-29 margin, but it was the Falcons who won the turnover battle forcing 20 BU turnovers and UWRF turning it over 11 times.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• BU shot 30.8 percent in the opening quarter with just four field goals, one coming from behind the arc. UWRF was efficient going 5-of-7 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to build a 16-9 lead.  
• The Royals held the Falcons to just one field goal and a free throw in the second quarter – UWRF was 1-of-15 – while outscoring them 7-3.
• UWRF's second quarter points came on a free throw and offensive put back all around the six-minute mark.
• BU opened the second on a 6-0 run but went without a field goal in the final 7:13 and had just one free throw to trail 19-16 at the break.
 
Second Half
• The Royals cashed in from 3-point range in the third quarter where three of their four makes came.
• The largest lead by either team in the third came at 8:37 when UWR led 21-17.
• Bethel held two brief leads in the fourth and tied it twice down the stretch. They would shoot 75 percent in the final frame but were 3-of-7 from the line. 
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Elly Schmitz finished with a game-high 15 points.
• Rosalie Penke grabbed a game-high eight boards.
• Anna Garfield chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds to go along with four assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals stay in non-conference action heading south to Daytona, Fla. They open up a two-game stretch the Sunshine State Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. CT against Thomas College.
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