NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Bethel University women's basketball team led for 38:57 of Saturday's contest before Carleton came storming back to force overtime and handing the Royals a 58-54 loss inside West Gym.
 
Bethel (11-9, 11-6 MIAC) shot a season-low 24.6 percent from the floor while Carleton (7-13, 6-12 MIAC) went 38.5 percent. The Royals dominated the boards by a 53-38 margin including 20 offensive boards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Courtney Nuest accounted for five of Bethel's first seven points.
• Shooting 35 percent from the floor, BU led 16-10 after one.
• A three ball from Anna Garfield with 4:46 left gave BU its largest lead of the half at 22-13.
• Limiting themselves to three turnovers, BU took a 28-23 lead into the break.
 
Second Half
• Bethel's lead reached double digits two minutes into the third.
• Autumn Earny cashed in behind the arc going a perfect 3-for-3 behind the arc. Her third one of the quarter came with 41 seconds left giving BU its largest lead of the night at 45-28.
• Carleton started its comeback efforts early in the fourth and held BU to a lone field goal and two free throws.
• The Knights outscored the Royals 17-4 in the final 10 minutes forcing overtime while being tied at 49-49 that included two free throws with seven seconds left.
 
Overtime
• Carleton had the first bucket in the extra period with 2:15 to go.
• BU struggled to score as Earney knocked down a three with 50 seconds left putting Bethel within one.
• The Knights made free throws down the stretch while BU missed a pair of threes in what was a two-possession game in the final 10 seconds.  
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Courtney Nuest finished with a team-high 14 points and eight boards.
• Autumn Earney off the bench knocked down four treys for 12 points with six rebounds.
• Anna Garfield had herself an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals look to snap a five-game losing skid next Wednesday, Feb. 8 hosting St. Catherine inside the Robertson Center at 7 p.m.

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