ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Scoring early and often, junior
Elly Schmitz carried the Bethel University women's basketball team to a 68-55 win over St. Scholastica Wednesday evening inside the Robertson Center. Schmitz poured in a career-high 25 points and added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the year.
Bethel struggled from the floor shooting 29.9 percent – its second lowest mark of the season – and were 0-of-9 from three, but they overcame that at the free throw line where they were 28-fo-34 (82.4 percent). BU held a big advantage on the boards 47-32 and turned its 25 offensive boards into 14 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Schmitz scored six of Bethel's first 10 points as they trailed by three with 2:04 to go in the opening quarter.
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Emily Erickson scored BU's final two buckets of the first as the Royals trailed 17-14.
• Through the opening 6:12 of the second quarter, the Royals built a 27-19 advantage with a 13-2 run that held CSS to only two free throw makes.
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Alli Born would get an offensive put back at the horn to fall, after getting a steal at midcourt, sending the Royals into the locker room up 31-26.
Second Half
• After dropping 12 in the first half, Schmitz opened up an eight-point third scoring on BU's opening possession.
• A 10-0 run late in the third pushed the BU lead into double digits. A pair of free throws from Schmitz made it 51-35 heading into the fourth.
• The Royals got to the line in the fourth going 13-for-14 from the charity stripe.
• Free throws early in the fourth by
Emily Erickson gave BU its largest lead of the night at 55-35.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Elly Schmitz was 7-of-16 from the field and 11-of-12 at the charity stripe. She added three steals and two blocks.
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Emily Erickson finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
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Colette Duininck added seven assists.
UP NEXT
Now 13-10 on the year and 11-7 in conference play, the Royals are off for a week due to the cancelation of Saturday's game against Carleton. BU is back on the floor next Wednesday, Feb. 14 hosting Saint Benedict for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
