Bethel women fall to Bethany in home KCAC opener
Stupey and Robb led the team in points as turnovers haunted the Threshers.
The Bethel women’s basketball team dropped its home conference opener 73-63 to Bethany on Saturday.
The Threshers kept it close throughout the game, bringing it to within three points in the fourth quarter behind a couple of big threes by junior Carley Robb, but were never able to tie the game or take the lead in the closing minutes.
“They sped us up so much,” said interim head coach Rocky Lamar. “We want to play fast, but we don't want to be sped up. There's a big difference.”
The Threshers struggled with turnovers, totaling 24 in their matchup against the Swedes, which is seven more than their per-game average on the season.
Despite the turnover problem, Bethel still able to keep it close throughout the game. Junior Josie Stupey had 17 points for the Threshers, including sinking eight free throws on eight attempts. Robb added 13 points behind three 3-pointers on the night.
Freshmen Kendall Locke and Madyson McKinzie both flirted with double-doubles - Locke with 11 points and seven boards and McKinzie with nine and nine. Sophomore Caryn Yoder helped hold down the defense with three steals on the night.
The Threshers also struggled with fouls on the night which was something that Lamar is very frustrated with: “I am sick and tired of the fouling,” said Lamar. “The foul discrepancy is unbelievable. It’s happening everywhere, so we must be fouling. We have got to quit fouling.”
Bethel had two players foul out against Bethany in Robb and red-shirt sophomore Parker Schroeder, and it made two impactful players unavailable for the last stretch of a close conference game.
The Threshers are heading into a break with Thanksgiving coming up and hope to come back focused and ready to take on more of the KCAC with a matchup at Ottawa looming on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.