St. Olaf Women’s Basketball Defeated by Bethel on the Road
On Wednesday evening, the St. Olaf College women’s basketball team took a tough loss against Bethel University. The final score was 71-36 at the Robertson Center, part of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play.
The Oles really struggled against Bethel’s aggressive press. Turnovers piled up, and the game slipped away fast.
Game Overview
Table of Contents
St. Olaf came in with a 5-15 overall record and hadn’t yet won in the MIAC this season. Bethel University, on the other hand, had a confident 15-5 record and sat at 10-3 in the conference.
Bethel had been getting votes in the latest D3hoops.com national poll. This game mattered a lot for them as they tried to keep pace at the top of the MIAC standings.
Key Moments and Statistics
Right from the start, Bethel’s defense just didn’t let up. They forced St. Olaf into 31 turnovers, which turned into a massive 34-0 advantage in points off turnovers for Bethel.
Elise Hahn, a sophomore for the Oles, nearly put up a double-double. She finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, five blocks, and three steals.
Hahn was the only Ole to score in double figures. Junior Joy Brandenstein added seven points, and first-year Erin Schauer pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
Team Performance
The Oles just couldn’t get anything going offensively. They managed only 36 points, with half coming from free throws, shooting 75% (18-for-24) from the line.
Bethel’s Emily Erickson and Elly Schmitz each dropped 14 points, helping their team shoot 38.8% (26-for-67) overall. Bethel didn’t shoot well from three, just 20.8% (5-for-24), but made up for it elsewhere.
Bethel’s Dominance in the Paint
Bethel really owned the paint, outscoring St. Olaf 36-6 there. Their bench also stepped up, adding 35 points to the Oles’ nine.
That kind of depth made a huge difference in the outcome.
Game Progression
St. Olaf actually started with a bit of hope. Joy Brandenstein hit a three-pointer just over a minute in, giving the Oles their only lead at 3-2.
Bethel answered immediately and took control. Emmanuelle Sennowo, a first-year, hit a jumper that brought the Oles within three at 8-5 midway through the first quarter.
But Bethel closed the quarter on a 10-0 run and led 18-5 after one.
Second Quarter Defensive Efforts
St. Olaf did manage to hold Bethel to just 11 points in the second quarter. Their defense showed some spark, but the offense still couldn’t get rolling.
They went into halftime down 29-13. The third quarter got away from St. Olaf, as Bethel put up 27 points and put the game out of reach.
Looking Ahead
St. Olaf gets another shot this Saturday, February 7, against Saint Mary’s. The game will also celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, with an autograph session for youth after the game.
It’s a nice chance to inspire young athletes and highlight women’s contributions to sports.
Implications for Bethel
Bethel’s win keeps them right in the MIAC title hunt. Forcing turnovers and making the most of them is clearly a big part of their game.
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Their deep bench and dominance inside give them real momentum as they chase the conference crown. Let’s see how far they can ride it.
Conclusion
Bethel’s defense really took center stage in their game against St. Olaf. The Bethel squad kept up the pressure and managed to spread out their scoring, which made a big difference.
St. Olaf had some strong moments, especially on defense during the second quarter. Still, Bethel’s intensity eventually wore them down.
Looking ahead, St. Olaf’s got their eyes on that first conference win. Bethel, meanwhile, will try to hang onto their spot near the top of the MIAC standings.
For more details on this game and future matchups, check out the St. Olaf Athletics website.