NAPLES, Fla. – The Bethel University women's basketball team wrapped up the Naples Shootout with a 63-43 decision over Salisbury University Monday evening at the Community School of Naples.
The Royals dominated the inside game holding a 44-14 points in the paint advantage while shooting 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the field. BU returns to Arden Hills unbeaten at 10-0 and heads back into MIAC play for the remainder of the year hosting Saint Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 4. Tip-off in the Robertson Center comes at 3 p.m.
Senior forward Taite Anderson had an efficient night scoring 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting. In 27 minutes of action, she grabbed five boards - three which came on the offensive end - and collected four steals. Junior forward Elizabeth Schwarz tallied 14 of BU's 29 bench points and grabbed a team-high six boards.
Taite Anderson scored the game's first five points before a pair of 3-pointers put the Sea Gulls ahead. The teams ran even the rest of the first quarter with BU leading 14-12 thanks to a 3-pointer from Emma Schultz followed by a steal and a layup from Barker on the inbounds.
The Royals started to get in a grove on offense opening up the second quarter with a 10-0 run through the first three minutes. BU picked up the intensity on defensive forcing the Sea Gulls to a four-minute plus scoring drought while taking a 30-20 lead into the locker room.
The defense continued its dominance in the third quarter forcing the Sea Gulls to six empty possessions at the start of the half. Taite Anderson connected on a 3-point play pushing the margin to 41-21 with under four to go. It wasn't until the 3:40 mark that Salisbury scored its first field goal of the second half.
Bethel's lead remained at double digits in the fourth where they pounded the rock inside. Schwarz had 10 of her 14 points come in the final 10 minutes where her layup at the one minute mark gave the Royals their largest lead of the game at 63-41.
Story by Austin Lagesse, Bethel University Assistant Sports Information Director