ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Carla Meyer scored 21 and Sophia Jonas added 18 but a fourth quarter rally by the College of Saint Benedict (9-4, 6-4 MIAC) fell just short in a 68-64 setback to Bethel (9-5, 9-2 MIAC) in MIAC action on Saturday afternoon at Claire Lynch Hall.

With the victory, Bethel held onto first place in the MIAC at 9-2 while Saint Ben's dropped to 6-4 for sixth in the conference but just a game out of third place. The Bennies turn around and travel to Carleton for a MIAC game on Monday at 7 p.m.

CSB and Bethel battled back and forth all game with nine lead changes and four tie scores. The Bennies took a 16-12 lead after one quarter and, after the Royals had an 18-15 advantage in the second stanza, CSB led, 31-30, at halftime. CSB led by nine with 8:09 to play in the second quarter before Bethel rallied. In the third quarter, Bethel had a 15-12 margin to take a 45-43 lead to the fourth quarter. In the final period, the Royals built a nine-point lead (52-43, 7:45) before CSB closed to within 65-64 with 20 seconds to play but couldn't quite get over the top.

By the Numbers
For the third time in her career, Meyer finished with a 20-point game as she was 9-of-18 from the field, 1-of-2 at the foul line and 2-of-6 from three-point range for her 21 points. It was her 39^th career-double-digit scoring game and 11^th this season. She added three rebounds, three assists and two steals in a solid performance.

Sophomore guard Sophia Jonas added 18 points, including 3-of-9 from three-point range. She also had four rebounds and three assists. For Jonas, she now has 11 double-digit games this season and 20 in her career. In addition, Jonas now has hit three or more triples in a game 19 times.

CSB also had a solid effort from senior guard Hannah Johnson, who finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists along with two steals. She also hit her second three-point of the season as she was 3-of-5 from the floor. Senior guard Gabby Martin added six points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Bethel, which had 22 points from Anna Garfield, including 8-of-9 free throws, held a 43-30 rebound edge. As a result, they owned a 40-to-28 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 15-to-2 margin in second chance points.

For the game, CSB was 23-of-59 for 39 percent from the field while Bethel was a tad better at 43.9 percent on 25-of-57 shooting. CSB was 6-of-22 from three-point range and Bethel was 4-of-20 for 20 percent.

First Quarter – Meyer scores five to lead Bennies to 16-12 lead
In the opening quarter, CSB was able to take a 16-12 advantage while making 5-of-13 field goals for 38.5 percent. Bethel hit 5-of-14 for 35.7 percent but missed all five of its three-pointers. The two teams exchange leads early in the period before CSB had a 5-1 run for a 14-10 margin at the 1:52 mark after Johnson scored inside on a lay-up. With two foul shots, Jonas gave CSB a 16-12 lead the break. In the quarter, Meyer had five points and Jonas four while Garfield scored six for Bethel.

2^nd Quarter – Royals outshoot Bennies to draw within, 31-30
In the second stanza, Bethel had an 18-15 advantage which was facilitated through a 43.8 percent (7-of-16) to 33.3 (6-of-18) shooting advantage over the Bennies. The Royals made a pair of threes while the Bennies hit just one. Early in the quarter, CSB jumped to its largest lead of the game at 23-15 after Olivia Boily, who had five points and seven rebounds (three offensive boards), converted inside after a turnover by Bethel.  Gradually, the Royals battled back and closed to 23-22 at the 6:50 mark when Courtney Nuest, who had 13 points and seven rebounds, scored inside. The Bennies responded with a 7-0 run as Jonas knocked down a three-pointer with 4:58 to play to lead 30-22. Then, the Royals countered with an 8-0 run as a basket inside by Lydia Hagstrom drew the teams even with 33 seconds to play. However, Kira Young hit 1-of-2 free throws as CSB took a 31-30 halftime lead. Boily led CSB with five points and three rebounds in the quarter while Garfield had six for Bethel.  At the halftime break, CSB was 11-of-31 for 35.5 percent and 2-of-9 from distance. Bethel was 12-of-30 for 40 percent but just 2-of-12 from three-point range.

3^rd Quarter – Jonas scores eight although Bethel rallies late to take a 45-43 lead
After CSB took a six-point lead (43-37) with 3:42 to play, the Royals responded with a closing run of 8-0 to take the 45-43 lead. In the quarter, Bethel had a 15-12 margin as they made 37.5 percent from the floor on 6-of-16 shooting. CSB was 5-of-14 for 38.5 percent and 2-of-5 from three-point range. Hagstrom's field goal with 24 seconds to play gave the Royals the advantage. In the quarter, Jonas had eight points, including a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possessions midway through the period. Nuest had six points to lead the Royals.

4^th Quarter – Meyer scores 10 points but CSB rally falls short
Bethel used an early run to win the final quarter, 23-to-21, as they made 7-of-11 field goals for 63.6 percent. CSB, which rallied late made 46.7 percent (7-of-15) but fell just short. In the opening 2:15, the Royals had a 7-0 run for a 52-43 lead at the 7:45 mark after Nuest hit a three-pointer from the left corner. Then, CSB began its comeback by opening the final quarter with a 9-2 run of its own to pull within 54-52 after Meyer hit a three-pointer at the 5:15 mark.
Throughout the final quarter, the Royals had the answer for each run by the Bennies. Down 58-53, Johnson converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to 58-56 with 2:06 to play. However, the Royals answered with four straight points for a 62-56 lead with 58 seconds left on a three-point play from Garfield. Johnson hit a clutch three-pointer with 38 seconds left to again draw CSB within 63-61. After Garfield hit two foul shots, Jonas converted a three-point play to reduce the deficit to 65-64 with 20 seconds left. After Bethel's Garfield was 1-of-2 at the foul line, CSB called time out to set up a play but a turnover with six seconds left gave the ball back to the Royals, which iced the game with two free throws by Garfield.