NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Senior Makenna Ash recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but the St. Olaf College women's basketball team fell to Bethel 78-42 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest Wednesday evening at Skoglund Center.

Bethel (9-3, 3-2) forced 33 turnovers by St. Olaf (5-7, 2-3) that resulted in 40 points and the Royals shot 46.8 percent from the floor compared to just 28.6 percent from the Oles.

Ash led the Oles with 12 points and 10 rebounds, junior Ella Skrien added eight points and two rebounds and sophomore Keegan Mulvihill tallied six points and five rebounds.

The Royals jumped out to a 15-4 lead with two minutes to go in the first quarter after Taite Anderson sank a three-pointer.  After back-to-back baskets from Ash and first year K'Lynn Lewis, the Oles climbed within seven at 16-9 with 1:13 to go in the period.

At 5:15 in the second quarter Bethel extended their lead to 19 as Tessah Anderson sank a three-pointer. St. Olaf responded with two consecutive layups by Skrien to make the score 32-17, but the Royals would extend their lead back to 19 heading into the half.

After the Royals hit two baskets in a row in the third quarter, Mulvihill sank a three-pointer to make the score 42-22 with 8:12 remaining in the third period. With 1:38 left in the quarter, Mulvihill found junior Britta Koenen in the paint for an Ole basket, but Bethel remained on top at the end of the period at 57-36.

Bethel forced two consecutive turnovers by St. Olaf early in the fourth quarter and took a 30-point lead at 65-35. St. Olaf held the Royals scoreless for the next 3:09 and posted a pair of free throws from junior Kelsie Gerovac, but the Royals closed out the game on a 10-4 run.

The Oles are back to action Saturday, January 5 as they begin a double-header against Concordia (Minn.) in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest beginning at 1 p.m. and followed by the men's basketball game at 3 p.m.