ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – For the third time in program history the Bethel University women's basketball team claimed a MIAC Regular Season title following a 78-66 win over Saint Benedict Saturday afternoon inside the Robertson Center.
The Royals share the title with Gustavus Adolphus as both teams finished 17-1 in conference play. A coin flip was required to break the tie between the two squads, with Bethel winning the toss and receiving the No. 1 seed in the MIAC Playoffs.
Elly Schmitz led the way with a 19-point, 11-rebound double while adding three blocks.
Macey Littlefield off the bench chipped in 15 points while Lydia dropped 13 and
Anna Garfield finished with 10.
Tied 32-32 at the half, Bethel came out of the locker room with the hot hand outscoring the Bennies by a 31-16 margin in the third.
CSB went up 37-32 in the first minute before BU went on a 21-9 run to take the lead for good. Littlefield scored 10 of her 15 in that stretch including back-to-back threes that put BU up 49-44.
Bethel forced the Bennies into a three-minute scoring drought with their only field goal coming at the 1:47 mark in the final four minutes and third seconds to lead 63-48 after three.
With 2:17 to play the Bennies got within eight before free throws by Garfield and a layup and free throw from Schmitz moved the lead back to double digits.
The Royals led 20-12 after the opening period as both teams went a combined 1-for-10 from behind the arc. Saint Ben's flipped the script in the second quarter getting to the free throw line and outscoring BU 20-12.
UP NEXT
The Royals will host a semifinal contest on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. They will take on the lowest-remaining seed from the quarterfinal matches. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26. All tickets for the 2025 MIAC Playoffs will be sold and purchased online via
HomeTown Ticketing.
There will not be cash sales at any venue; however, spectators can purchase tickets using a mobile device, including while at the venue.
