Macalester vs. Bethel statistics

Bethel took the lead for good early in the second half and went on to knock the Scots out of first place in the MIAC with a 72-61 victory in Arden Hills, snapping Mac's four-game winning streak. The Royals shot 48% on the night, while Mac was a cold-shooting 13-for-40 in the decisive second half.

Danielle Johnson (Sr., DeForest, Wis. / Madison Edgewood) and Ann Baltzer (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.) each scored 18 points to lead the Scots, combining to go 15-for-23 from the field. Johnson was a perfect 4-for-4 on three-pointers and her 18 points is a season best. Baltzer, who entered the contest as the MIAC scoring leader, also handed out five assists, while Johnson had four assists.

Jessica Rene (So., Eau Claire, Wis. / Memorial) added 10 points and five assists, and Trina PaStarr (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) helped out with eight points and six boards. Shannon Rene (So., Eau Claire, Wis. / Memorial) finished with four assists and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Bethel featured four players in double figures in scoring, led by Sheley Taylor with 19 points, and Shana Grejtak and Kristi Nye with 15 apiece. Grejtak pulled down eight boards and Nye contributed five assists. Bethel posted 43 second half points against the MIAC's top-ranked defense.  The Royals are 7-10 overall and 6-8 in the conference.

Macalester led 11-4 early but the rest of the first half was close, with the Scots holding a slim 30-29 advantage. The Scots scored the first bucket of the second half to go up 32-29, but BU then began a 17-6 run to go up by eight points at 46-38 with 12:45 to go. Mac never was closer than four points the rest of the night.

Mac is 11-6 overall and 11-3 in the MIAC, and returns to action Saturday (Jan. 30) against St. Thomas at 1 p.m. at Concordia University.