Made the trek over to Bethel's Robertson Center on this very cold Wednesday evening to take in the clash between host Bethel and visiting St. Ben's. The Blazers, who have been on a roll as of late and fighting tooth and nail with SMU for second place in the conference appeared to be the prohibitive favorite in this game but, as they would find out (almost the hard way), you have to come prepared each night in the MIAC.
The Royals, just as they had in the road game at Macalester, came out with a lot of energy in this game and were primed to go and it showed early on. Freshman guard Sydney "Bam Bam" Schultz's "3" from the top of the key drew first blood at the 19:31 mark. CSB, on the other hand, was struggling mightily on offense and was whistled for several traveling violations as the Blazers simply were unable to find any rythm at all. After freebies by freshman Mattie Lueck and senior Whitney Canton that tied things at 3-all, the Royals proceeded to go on a 7-0 run; highlighted by senior point guard Kristi Nye-Studanski's jumper from the right baseline and a lay-up in transition as well along with yet another "3" by "Bam Bam" that made it 10-3 Bethl by the 14:21 mark and had CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin calling a 30-second timeout to try and find a way to put the fire out.
The Blazers would not be able to find those proverbial water buckets right away but even as the Royals kept something of a cushion they were unable to capitalize on several opportunities for fast break baskets as Bethel inexplicably blew THREE easy transition lay-ups in the span of four minutes. The Blazers finally got their first field goal of the game when Mattie Lueck did get a lay-up in transition and athletic junior Tish Alexander helped pull the Blazers closer with a lay-up at the 11:14 mark and two freebies from the charity stripe at the 10:42 mark that made it a 16-10 game in favor of Bethel. After Canton connected with a pretty shot off the glass at the 7:45 mark and a tough jumper by sophomore Emily Lueck as the shot clock expired at the 6:50 mark that cut the Royal lead down to 18-14, Bethel was able to make good on a mini 5-0 run that was highlighted by another "Bam Bam" "3" from the right wing (her favorite spot) that increased the Royal lead to 23-14. But again, Bethel failed to consolidate the advantage they had as missed opportunites let the door open for the Blazers to creep closer. After two free throws by Canton at the 5:58 mark, junior guard Brianna Barrett was able to manuever inside for a score and got fouled in the process at the 4:23 mark and the ensuing freebie cut the Bethel lead down to 23-19. Just a little more than a minute later at the 3:17 mark, Barrett again got inside in the paint for a finish that cut the Royal lead down to a scant two points. Bethel would twice get the lead back up to four points in the waning moments but a "3" by sophomore reserve guard Jessica Fischer from the right top area with 1:44 left made it a one point game before freshman reserve post Megan Brodeur was able to score inside that gave the Royals the 29-26 lead they took into the locker room at the half.
Bethel looked to gain the upper hand again as the second half got underway as junior guard Katelyn Vavra banged home a "3" from the top of the key at the 19:34 mark. Then, after senior reserve forward Hannah Hylla's long "2" from the right baseline and a score inside by Canton at the 18:08 mark got the Blazers to within two again, the Royals went to work as freshman phenom post Rachel Parupsky was able to connect with a tough turnaround jumper off the glass at the 17:40 mark and then used that same smooth surface again at the 16:19 mark for a 36-30 Bethel lead. Reserve junior guard Micaella Petrich would make it a 38-31 game with her jumper at the 15:43 mark.
The Blazers, however, seem to flourish when things look grim on the road and they responded. First, Mattie Lueck got a lay-up in transition at the 15:00 minute mark and then it was Alexander as she was the recipient of an incredibly beautiful (and incredibly well-placed) bounce pass by Canton in the paint for a lay-up at the 14:31 mark. CSB finally got even when Barrett made good on a drive and finish along the left baseline and was fouled in the process that, along with the obligatory freebie, made it 38-all. Then the Blazers finally took their first lead of the game when Canton connected with a lay-up in transition at the 13:23 mark as CSB was making life uncomfortable for the Royal as they upped their defensive intensity and got into the passing lanes that really took Bethel out of their offensive rythm as the Blazers seemed ready to take control. At the 12:00 mark, sophomore reserve forward Elena Koch knocked down a long "2" from the right corner and then it was Barrett with another lay-up in transition at the 9:55 mark. Canton topped off this 15-0 Blazer run with a turnaround jumper off the glass with 9:55 left for a 46-38 Blazer lead. By this point, it seemed as if CSB was firmly in control of this thing and was ready to cruise the rest of the way.
Or were they? Apparently someone forgot to tell this young Bethel Royal team that they were supposed to just simply fold up their tent and go home for the night as the Royals battled back in improbable fashion. After Mattie Lueck was able to snare an offensive rebound for a putback with 8:10 left that maintained that eight point advantage at 50-42 for CSB, Bethel once again went to work. Two scores by Parupsky at the 7:49 and 7:02 marks plus a huge steal by Petrich who literally came out of nowhere to snare an errant Blazer pass and go the other way for a lay-up at the 6:44 mark suddenly made it a 50-48 game. Two charity stripe shots by Parupsky with 5:30 left once again tied the issue at 50 a piece. CSB was able to grab another four point lead in an effort to try and put the Royals away for good on scores by Alexander and Barrett but, once again, the Royals refused to go quietly into the night. Freshman reserve guard Hannah Niewald connected with a jumper in the lane with 4:37 left to cut the Blazer lead back down to two points and then it was Vavra who made the home crowd explode with her tough "3" from the left corner with 2:58 left that gave Bethel the lead back at 55-54. From this point, it would be fair to say that controlled chaos reigned as Alexander gave the Blazers the lead back with her own jumper in the lane to make it 56-55. However, Parupsky gave Bethel the lead AGAIN with her score inside with 2:17 left to make it a 57-56 game.
But, just as they had this last Saturday at Gustavus, the Blazers seemingly willed their way to ultimate victory when they appeared to be in dire straits. Barrett calmly knocked down a huge "3" at the 2:03 mark and then it was Alexander making perhaps the play of the game as she snared the ball away from Parupsky on the Royals ensuing possession to go the other way for a lay-up attempt. Though Alexander missed the lay-up, senior Morgan Dale was right there for the offensive rebound and putback that made it a two possession game at 61-57. Then, with 1:20 left, Barrett snuck inside again for a score and got fouled in the process. Her obligatory freebie missed the mark but it was now a 63-57 game and Bethel now had to resort to desperation as the Blazers blanketed the perimeter that thwarted any hopes the Royals may have had. Alexander and Fisher made good on late free throws in the final seconds and CSB staved off defeat again by a final score of 67-57; as the Royals were heartbroken in defeat. But credit this CSB squad. They're tough. They're hot. And they're lucky. They've got everything going for them right now and they're playing like they can't beat and if they keep this up they may very well wind up winning this incredibly crazy conference.
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