ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A big fourth quarter offensively for the Bethel University women's basketball team carried them to a 76-86 win over Saint Benedict Wednesday evening inside the Robertson Center for senior night.
The win locks the Royals into the four seed for the MIAC Playoffs earning them a home quarterfinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
The Royals outscored the Bennies 26-13 in the final 10 minutes fueled by a combined 18 points from
Elly Schmitz and
Anna Garfield. Bethel (14-10, 12-7 MIAC) finished the night 46.6 percent from the floor and were 4-of-10 from three. They went 18-of-27 from the charity stripe.
BU's defense held Saint Benedict (13-10, 11-7 MIAC) to 38.1 percent from the field, 7-of-23 from 3-point range and 13-of-17 at the free throw line.
Prior to the game, Bethel honored seniors
Anna Garfield and
Lauren Johnson for their time and dedication to the program during their collegiate careers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• CSB raced out to a 14-4 lead with 5:30 left in the opening quarter. BU responded with a 10-0 run evening it up before CSB took a 19-14 lead into the second.
• The Bennies pushed the lead back to 10 early in the second quarter behind Kira Young's 3-pointer and driving layup.
•
Rosalie Penke took it into her own hands scoring six straight to get the Royals within 33-30 with 3:14 before the break.
• Bethel was kept off the scoreboard for the final 2:50 of the half as they trailed 38-32 at the break.
Second Half
• The Royals kept chipping away at the deficit in the third quarter cutting what was a 10-point deficit down to three early and then free throws from Colette Duinink got it 49-47 with 2:58 left.
• Going 7-of-10 at the line in the third BU entered the final 10 minutes down 55-50.
• Schmitz began her take over knocking down a trey to open up the fourth. She followed with the game tying layup before Penke drove one off the glass giving BU its first lead of the night with 8:21 remaining.
• The Bennies tied it at 62 all with 5:06 remaining but it was back-to-back layups from Schmitz giving the advantage back to Bethel, this time for good.
• Defensive stops for Bethel on the defensive end and made free throws on the offensive end in the final two minutes earned BU the season sweep of CSB.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Elly Schmitz poured in an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double effort. 11 of her 18 came in the fourth quarter.
•
Rosalie Penke finished with 15 points off the bench while adding eight rebounds.
•
Colette Duininck finished with 13 points and six assists while
Anna Garfield finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
Bethel closes out the regular season Saturday at St. Olaf with a 1 p.m. tip off time.
