ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Top-seeded and No. 24th-ranked Bethel University women's basketball team used a 25-0 run to take a 44-22 lead into halftime and didn't look back, taking down the fifth-seeded Saint Benedict 79-50 on Thursday night in the MIAC semifinals.
Elly Schmitz led the way for the Royals with a double-double, scoring 14 points to go along with 13 rebounds as well as five blocks.
Emily Erickson dropped 14 points off the bench going 6-for-8 from the field.
Lydia Hay put up 13 points and
Anna Garfield had 10 of her own.
The Royals grabbed an early 8-2 lead in the first quarter before the Bennies tied it up at eight. With Bethel trailing 18-15 to start the second,
Rosalie Penke got the quarter started for the Royals with a hook shot off the glass for two.
Colette Duininck came away with a steal and
Lydia Hay drove the lane and finished at the other end to give the Royals a 19-18 lead.
With 6:51 to play in the half,
Macey Littlefield drilled a three to tie the game at 22 and kick start a 25-0 Bethel run to close out the half.
The Royals shot 80% from the field in the second quarter, going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. On defense the Royals limited the Bennies to just 14% from the field, allowing just four points in the second quarter.
Bethel opened the second half with back-to-back threes from
Anna Garfield and
Colette Duininck to extend the lead to 25. The Royals went on to win 79-50.
Up next:
The Royals now host seconded-seeded an No. 6th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus in the MIAC championship game Saturday March 1 in the Robertson Center. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
Tickets for Saturday's game go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. and can be purchased through the
MIAC's Hometown Ticketing Site. Doors to the gym will open to spectators at 2 p.m.
