ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A season-best 47.8 percent clip from behind the arc earned the Bethel University women's basketball team a 74-60 win over St. Catherine Wednesday evening inside the Robertson Center. The win also clinches a spot in the MIAC Playoffs where the Royals will make their ninth straight appearance.
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Knocking down a season-high 11 treys the Royals snap a five-game losing skid while improving to 12-10 on the year and 12-7 in MIAC play.
Emma Schultz and
Autumn Earney combined to hit eight of those threes, each cashing in four times.
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The Royals finished the night shooting 48.2 percent while holding St. Catherine (12-9, 11-8 MIAC) to a 41.2 percent. BU kept the Wildcats in check behind the arc where they went 4-of-13 (30.8 percent).
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HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Neither team held a lead bigger than four in the first quarter. Schulz knocked down a pair of early threes with
Courtney Nuest and
Anna Garfield following her up as it was tied 16-16.
• Earney knocked down her first three of the game with 7:06 to go in the second putting BU up for good.
• Nuest finished out a nine-point half with back-to-back buckets opening the Royals lead to 31-25 with 90 seconds left.
• St. Kate's had the half's last four points sending BU into the break with a 31-29 lead.
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Second Half
• Both teams came out of the break not missing. Things settled in just over halfway into the third as Earney scored eight of BU's next 10 thanks to back-to-back threes.
• Nuest had herself an 11-point quarter as BU held a 59-44 edge heading into the fourth.
• A bucket from
Kendal Cox with four minutes to go in the fourth gave the Royals their largest lead of the night at 73-50. Â Â
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KEY PERFORMERS
•
Anna Garfield led all scorers with 18 points while adding seven rebounds and five steals.
•
Courtney Nuest finished with 16 points and five boards.
• Emma Schutlz and
Autumn Earney both relied on the three ball to each finish with 14.
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UP NEXT
The Royals travel to St. Olaf on Saturday, Feb. 11 for a 3 p.m. tip.
