ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—For the first time since 1995-96, the Bethel University women's basketball will be advancing to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen following a 57-48 victory over Coe College in the second round at the Robertson Center on Saturday night.

The Royals, who now surpass last season's win total with a 24-6 record and push their win streak to eight, will face No. 3 Washington & Lee in the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen in Lexington, Virginia on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. (ET). Coe's season ends with a 22-7 record. 

Bethel 57, Coe 48

Caydee Kirkham and Audrie Helmrichs scored all of Coe's points in the first quarter with six apiece, which powered them to a 12-8 advantage through 10:00 of play. 

Bethel opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run that included seven points from Elly Schmitz, which put them in the driver's seat for good at 17-12. Schmitz finished the second quarter with 11 points, while Rosalie Penke added eight off a pair of three pointers to give Bethel a 30-22 halftime lead. 

Each team traded 10 points in a third quarter that saw Coe cut their deficit to as little as five points at 37-32 off a pair of Audrie Helmrichs free throws with 3:12 on the clock. The Kohawks didn't get any closer from that point forward as the Royals widened their cushion to as much as 10 points on four occasions before they sealed a 57-48 win.

Penke led Bethel with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Schmitz came off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds. Colette Duininck rounded out the double figure Royals with 11 points, a team-leading six assists, and three steals. Emily Erickson led Bethel with three blocks to go with eight points, three steals, six rebounds, and two assists. Alli Born paced the Royals with four steals.

Bethel shot .396 (21-of-53) from the field while Coe finished .388 (19-of-49) from the field and a dismal .071 (1-of-14) three-point percentage. Caydee Kirkham led the Kohawks with 22 points and two steals, while Helmrichs 16 points and rebounds.