ST. PAUL, Minn. - In their second straight game against a ranked opponent, the Hamline women's basketball team (9-5, 6-5 MIAC) came close to handing #10 Bethel (17-0, 12-0 MIAC) their first loss of the season, but fell just short with a 79-75 final in favor of the Royals.
 
All five starters ended in double figures for the Pipers, being led by sophomore Chan'el Anderson-Manning who scored a season-high 20 points, which is one shy of tying her career-high. Anderson-Manning also had three assists, three rebounds, three steals, and a block to help HU in the game.
 
Senior Reilly Geistfeld put up 15 for Hamline, being followed by senior Kaeli Stayer who had 13. Stayer also dished out a team-high five assists. Sophomore Gabby Robinson had 11 points and Lydia Lecher added 10. Robinson's points were particularly efficient, making three of her four field goals (75.0%), including draining her one three attempt.
 
Bethel got off to a fast start in the game, taking a 14-1 lead with 5:30 left in the first quarter. The Pipers rallied, though, scoring 17 of the last 19 points to take an 18-16 lead into the second period. This large run was capped off by Stayer hitting a deep, last-second three to propel Hamline into the lead.
 
The second quarter was close throughout, with Hamline holding the largest lead at six. The Royals made six free throws towards the end of the half and it looked like they would take a two-point lead into the break, but Stayer once again threw up a last-second three that made it in before the buzzer to give Hamline a 39-38 point lead after the first half.
 
The third quarter proved to be just as tight, with neither team being able to lead by more than six points. The Pipers trailed by four heading into the final quarter.
 
The Royals built their lead to eight with five minutes left to play. Hamline battled, however, as a jumper from Geistfeld got the game within three with two minutes to go. It would again be a three-point game after Anderson-Manning scored a clutch and-one in the final minute. Bethel answered with a layup, but free throws from senior Morgen Coleman once again made it a one-possession game. The Pipers were unable to score in the last 30 seconds, as the Royal defense forced a pair of turnovers to seal the win.
 
The Pipers held a slight edge in shooting percentage (47.9% to 46.3%), but shot decidedly better from the three-point line, hitting 56.3% of their attempts, compared to BU's 21.1%. The Royals, however, really capitalized on points off turnovers (20) and second chance points (15) to help them stay unbeaten.

Senior Taite Anderson led Bethel in the game with 31 points on 14 of 20 shooting (70.0%) while also nabbing 12 boards. 
 
Hamline will hit the road for their next three games, starting with a Wednesday matchup against St. Olaf in Northfield. They will then travel to Saint Benedict on Saturday, February 1 before heading up to Moorhead to face Concordia on Monday, February 3.