ST. PETER, Minn. – Despite having its best shooting performance of the season at 51.1 percent, the Bethel University women's basketball team ran into a hot shooting Gustavus Adolphus squad dropping Saturday's MIAC matchup, 82-68. The No. 8th-ranked Gusties shot a season second-best 51.9 percent from the field.
 
The Royals (6-7, 4-4 MIAC) were 4-of-7 behind the arc while the Gusties (11-1, 7-0 MIAC) were 9-of-16. BU led the points in the paint battle by a 34-28 margin while GAC won the battle on the boards 30-17.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Gustavus opened the game on an 8-0 run before Alli Born gave Bethel its first bucket of the game with a layup at the 5:47 mark.
• The Royals defense held the Gusties to three free throws and no field goals in the final 2:30 of the opening quarter as they trailed 22-15 at the first break.
• The Gusties outscored the Royals in the second quarter 22-13
• Despite shooting 45.4 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, BU went into the locker room trailing 44-28. Gustavus finished the half at 53.6 percent.
 
Second Half
• Anna Garfield had the quarters opening bucket before the Gusties went on a 9-0 run extending their lead to 53-30.
• Garfield and Colette Duininck each knocked down a three while BU went 7-of-8 from the line to trail 64-45 after three.
• The teams traded buckets to open the fourth before BU went on a 10-0 run moving the gap from 23 points to 13 points with 1:44 to go.
• BU was 9-of-10 in the fourth with two threes and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Anna Garfield had a team-leading 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
• Emily Erickson finished with a career-high 15 points.
• Alli Born added 12 points off the bench including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.  
 
UP NEXT
Bethel looks to bounce back on Wednesday, Jan. 10 traveling to Saint Benedict for a 7 p.m. tip.

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