ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Emily Erickson's second 20+ point performance was the standout in a game where the Royals found themselves down early and unable to recover. The Bethel University women's basketball team would eventually fall to No. 6th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 81-57.
Erickson's career-high 22 points came on 7-of-8 shooting with an 8-of 11 mark at the charity stripe. As a team the Royals shot 43.6 percent on the day, as and were 20-of-27 at the free throw line.
Bethel (12-9, 10-6 MIAC) found themselves down 25-15 at the end of the first quarter, despite going 6-of-11 (54.5%) to Gustavus' (18-1, 14-0 MIAC) 8-of-15 (53.3%).
Bethel was able to close the gap to seven on an
Anna Garfield steal which turned into an
Emily Erickson second chance layup, drawing the foul and making the free throw to cut the deficit to 27-20 with 8:42 to go before the break.
Macey Littlefield would nail a 3-point attempt later in the period closing the gap to eight 31-23, but the Royals would find themselves down 50-27 at the half as GAC closed on a 19-4 run.
The Royals put together a strong third quarter leading with
Rosalie Penke's eight points and Erickson's six in the period. BU was narrowly outscored 19-17 in the third trailing 69-44 heading into the fourth.
Bethel's fourth quarter defense held GAC to 30 percent from the field, while outscoring the Gusties 13-12.
Bethel looks to bounce back in the third game of a six game homestand on Monday night against St. Catherine. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Robertson Center.
