The Bethel University women's basketball is set to make its ninth straight appearance in the MIAC Playoffs earning the No. 5 seed after going 10-10 in conference play. The Royals are set to travel to fourth-seeded Saint Benedict Tuesday evening in a rematch of the regular season finale from last Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The winner of Tuesday's game advance to the semifinals on Friday and will travel to Gustavus or Concordia. The lowest remaining seed will travel to take on the Gusties. Due to the winter storm warning the semifinals were moved to Friday and championship game to Sunday.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
No. 6 St. Olaf at No. 3 Hamline • 5 p.m.
No. 5 Bethel at No. 4 Saint Benedict • 7 p.m.
Semifinals | Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 | 7:00 PM
TBA at No. 1 Gustavus
TBA at No. 2 Concordia
Championship | Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 | 2:00 PM
High-seed Host
PLAYOFF HISTORY
• The Royals hold an 8-11 all-time playoff record while making their 13th overall appearance.
• In last year's MIAC Playoffs, which was an all-comers tournament, the Royals were a three seed winning the quarterfinal matchup over Carleton 71-59 before falling to Gustavus in the semis 74-40.
• It will be just the second meeting between the Royals and Bennies in the playoffs. The only meeting came in the 2009 semifinals where the top-seeded Bennies defeated fifth-seeded Bethel 66-61.
• As a five seed the Royals are 1-3 all-time having been No. 5 in the 2016, 2011 and 2009 playoffs
SERIES HISTORY
• Bethel trails the all-time series 14-36 against Saint Benedict since 1996-97.
• Last Saturday's 66-58 loss snapped the Royals six-game winning streak against CSB.
• BU has won six of the last 10 matchups against the two foes.
• The Royals are 7-18 when playing in St. Joseph.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| BETHEL |
STAT |
SAINT BENEDICT |
| 58.9 |
Points Per Game |
62.7 |
| 59.5 |
Scoring Defense |
58 |
| -0.6 |
Scoring Margin |
4.7 |
| 37 |
FG% |
38.4 |
| 40.6 |
FG% Defense |
37.7 |
| 28.3 |
3PT FG% |
28.3 |
| 63.9 |
FT% |
67.3 |
| 10.9 |
Assists Per Game |
12.1 |
| 33.5 |
Rebounds Per Game |
37.6 |
| 17.4 |
Turnovers Per Game |
12.1 |
| 11.5 |
Steals Per Game |
6.6 |
WE'LL TAKE THAT
• BU is second in the MIAC with 11.5 steals per game, 287 total, and first in turnovers forced per game at 20.1.
• Sophomore
Courtney Nuest leads the MIAC and is ranked 27th nationally with 79 steals, eight more than Gustavus' Anna Sanders who is second.
• Junior
Anna Garfield is sixth in the league with 51 takeaways
REJECTED!
• Sophomore
Lydia Hagstrom is fourth in the MIAC in blocked shots with 24 rejections this season.
•
Anna Garfield is seventh with 19.
• As a team Bethel is fourth in the conference with 81 blocks, just three shy of the leaders in Augsburg.
