NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - The Bethel College women's basketball team returned home for KCAC play against the Saint Mary Spires.
 
Bethel stayed in the contest in the first quarter thanks to Natalie Richards game-high 12 points in the opening 10 minutes of play as she was perfect from the floor.
 
After being outscored by nine points in the opening frame, the Threshers held the Spires to their second-lowest quarter-point total of the contest but were outscored by five in the quarter to trail 47-33 at the intermission.
 
Saint Mary came out of the break picking right back up where they finished the first half as they outscored Bethel by ten in the frame. 
 
Bethel outscored Saint Mary in the fourth quarter, but couldn't quite get back into the contest as the Spires took the 85-63 victory.
 
Key Statistic
 
The difference in the contest came at the charity stripe where the Threshers missed 18 of their 35 attempts.
 
By The Numbers
 
Bethel scored just four points off the bench in the loss.
 
The Threshers pulled in six offensive boards.
 
Bethel scored 22 points in the paint.
 
Bethel was outrebounded by Saint Mary, 40-29.
 
Eight Threshers scored in the loss, two in double-figures.
 
Natalie Richards finished the contest 10 of 13 from the floor shooting 76.9% from the field and 66% from three-point range. 
 
Thresher Leaders
 
Points: Natalie Richards (28)
 
Rebounds: Madyson McKinzie (9)
 
Assists: Kendall Locke (4)
 
Steals: Carley Robb (3)
 
Blocks: Kendall Locke (2)
 
UP NEXT

The Threshers return to action on Wednesday, December 6th at 5:00 PM as they travel to take on the Southwestern Moundbuilders. 
 
 
 
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