LEXINGTON, VA.—The No. 23 Bethel University women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 75-67 decision to host school and No. 3 Washington & Lee in the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen in Lexington, Virginia on Friday night.
The Royals conclude their 2025-26 season with a 24-7 record, while the Generals improve to 31-0 and advance to the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Elite Eight, where they'll face Denison tomorrow, Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. (ET). This marked Bethel's second trip to the Sweet Sixteen in program history, and first since 1995-96.
Washington & Lee 75, Bethel 67
Bethel held Washington & Jefferson to just .222 (4-of-18) shooting in an opening quarter that resulted in four lead changes. The Royals, who finished .444 (8-of-15) in the first quarter, grabbed the fourth lead change courtesy of Alaina Bonacquista's tip in layup with seconds on the clock that put them in front 17-15.
The second quarter saw Bethel in the driver's seat in its entirety. Elly Schmitz's six points in the frame included a layup that gave BU their largest lead of the game at 35-25 with 1:08 left in the second quarter before they went into intermission with a 35-27 cushion. The second quarter saw Bethel shoot .467 (7-of-15), and hold Washington & Lee to a .286 (4-of-14) mark.
The Generals responded with a second-half shooting mark of .463 (19-of-41), while the Royals were .406 (13-of-32) over that stretch. That resulted in nine more lead changes before the Generals grabbed the lead for good off Elka Prechel's three-pointer with 6:38 left that made the score 59-57. Mary Schleusner gave them their largest lead of the game off a tip in layup off her own missed shot that gave them a nine-point 74-65 lead with 00:33 left before they iced a 75-67 win.
Emily Erickson had a team-leading 13 points and three blocks for the Royals, followed by 10 apiece from Alli Born and Cally Peterson. Born also had a team-leading seven rebounds and two steals to go with two blocks and three assists. Colette Duininck had four assists and eight points, while Rosalie Penke had eight points on a perfect 4-of-4 as well as three assists. Elly Schmitz came off the bench with nine points.
Bethel finished the game .431 (28-of-65) shooting, and held Washington & Lee to .370 (27-of-73). Schleusner had a double double 20 points, 17 boards, two steals, and three assists. Sarah Zimmerman followed with four blocks, 10 rebounds, and eight points.
Playing in their final collegiate game for the Royals were graduate students Elly Schmitz and Lexi Schermann as well as seniors Colette Duininck, Alli Born, Rosalie Penke, and manager Jaelin Boyd.
