Anna Cunningham had 20 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots to lead visiting Bethel (7-9, 5-8 MIAC) past Macalester (0-16, 0-13 MIAC). JoLynn Thielke added 13 points and eight boards for the Royals.
Afton Hanson paced Macalester with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Sarah Jacoby added 12 points. Alice Hacker distributed seven assists.
Macalester led 46-42 following a Jacoby basket with 4:35 remaining. The Royals, however, responded with nine unanswered points to go up 51-46 with :31 left to go. Cunningham had a three-point play and another basket during this decisive 9-0 rally, while Thielke knocked down one of her three three-pointers.
Macalester enjoyed a 19-12 turnover advantage but shot just 26% in the second half (8-for-31) after the contest was deadlocked 27-27 at halftime. Bethel shot 46% for the game.
The Scots scored the last five points of the first half to go into intermission all tied up. Then they out-scored the visitors 9-2 over the first five minutes of the second half to take a 36-29 lead. However, an 11-0 Bethel run put the Royals back on top 40-36 at the 10:09 mark. Macalester came back with a 10-2 rally of its own ? getting four points each from Jacoby and Hanson ? to go on top 46-42. Bethel then made its decisive 9-0 run to claim victory.
Each team returns to action Wednesday (Jan. 28) with home game, with Macalester hosting Augsburg and Bethel hosting St. Mary's.