DULUTH, Minn. – With five players in double figures, the Bethel University women's basketball team worked its way past St. Scholastica with a 78-61 victory Wednesday evening in Duluth.
 
Bethel (5-6, 4-3 MIAC) shot 50.8 percent from the field and were 73.7 from the charity stripe. St. Scholastica (5-5, 2-4 MIAC) was 40 percent from the field and 59.3 from the free throw line.
 
The Royals dominated the boards by a 45-24 margin, including a 15-6 edge on the offensive side. Bethel did most of its work down low with a 58-30 mark on points in the paint.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• The Royals jumped out to a 17-9 lead after opening quarter giving up only two field goals to the Saints. CSS would get the rest of its points from the charity stripe where they were 5-of-10.
• Bethel kept the hot hand going in the second shooting 61.5 percent and CSS shooting an even 50 percent on the other end.
• A pair of 6-0 runs for Bethel moved its advantage to 31-15 with 4:18 left in the half.
• Macey Littlefield had an eight-point quarter in the second helping BU take a 39-24 lead into the break.
 
Second Half
• The Royals expanded on their 15-point halftime lead shooting 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the field in the third quarter.
• Holding the Saints to one field goal and three free throws in the final four minutes of the third, BU led 64-41 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
• Anna Garfield's layup in the opening minute of the fourth gave the Royals their largest lead of the game at 66-41.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Anna Garfield reeled in a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double while added four assists, two steals and two blocks.
• Lauren Johnson put up a career-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
• Rosalie Penke added 11 points while Colette Duininck and Macey Littlefield each finished with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals have their hands full Saturday in a re-match with No. 8th-ranked and MIAC-leading Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Jan. 6 in St. Peter. Tip off is set for 1 p.m.   

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