ST. PAUL, MINN.—Bethel University women's basketball graduate student Elly Schmitz eclipsed a career-high in scoring for the second-straight contest with 29 points in their Saturday-afternoon road bout at St. Catherine University. Her double double also included a career-high 16 rebounds for the Royals in their 66-45 victory over the Wildcats.

The Royals' three-game win streak moves them to 3-1, 2-0 MIAC, while the Wildcats fall to 5-4, 0-2 MIAC.

Bethel 66, St. Catherine 45

All six of the game's lead changes occurred over the opening 11 minutes of the contest as Bethel took the driver's seat for good off Schmitz's three-pointer with 9:15 left in the second quarter. That bucket gave her team a 14-12 lead, and kick started an 11-4 run that widened Bethel's lead to 22-16 at halftime. 

The Royals doubled their point total of 11 from the first and second quarters with 22 in the third and fourth frames, which secured them a 66-45 win.

Bethel got 20 points from their bench, 15 of them came from Cally Peterson. Emily Erickson rounded out the Royal double figure scorers with 12 points. Colette Duininck paced Bethel with five steals and four assists, as well as six rebounds.

The Royals bounced back with a 12-of-26 (.462) field goal percentage in the second half after shooting just 8-of-31 (.258) in the first half.

Jordyn Peed led St. Catherine with 18 points.

Bethel will host Augsburg at Robertson Center Gym on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 p.m.