ST. PAUL, Minn. – Nearly erasing a 22-point second half deficit, the Bethel University women's basketball team cut the St. Catherine led to 53-51 with 3:39 to go. The Wildcats then held the Royals to a lone field goal the rest of the way as Bethel fell 58-53.
The difference was the first quarter where Bethel got out to a slow start trailing 25-5 at the end of the first 10 minutes. Bethel outscored St. Kate's in each of the remaining three quarters, but couldn't overcome the 28 turnovers.
BU finished the night 44.4 percent from the field while St. Kate's was 38.1 percent.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• The Royals shot 2-of-8 in the opening quarter with
Anna Garfield having both buckets and
Cally Peterson making the lone free throw.
• Meanwhile the Wildcats were 11-of-20 from the floor and forced the Royals into 10 turnovers.
• A tradeoff of buckets in the second quarter saw neither team have a run bigger than four straight points.
•
Elly Schmitz and Garfield combined for BU's final seven points of the half as they went into the break trailing 40-21.
Second Half
• Making the necessary halftime adjustments, Bethel's defense came out of the half strong holding St. Kate's to 25 percent shooting in the third quarter.
• The Royals ended the third on a 5-0 run pulling within 48-35.
• Peterson's layup with 5:40 to go got the deficit to single digits and sparked an 8-0 run. A three from Schmitz made it 53-31 with 3:49 left.
• Trailing by three with 2:20 left Bethel couldn't find the bottom of the net with three turnovers and three missed shots in the final stretch.
• SCU put it away at the free throw line with 13 seconds left.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Anna Garfield finished with a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting.
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Elly Schmitz added 15 points and five rebounds to go along with five steals.
UP NEXT
The Royals return to the Robertson Center on Saturday, Dec. 9 hosting Saint Mary's for a 1 p.m. tip off.
