NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Sophomore K'Lynn Lewis, senior Britta Koenen and first year Rachel Kelly combined for 46 points, but the St. Olaf College women's basketball team fell to Bethel University, 83-58, in its home opener on Tuesday night at Skoglund Center.

Bethel (5-0, 2-0 MIAC) outscored St. Olaf (4-3, 1-1 MIAC), 27-11, in the first quarter and sank 12 three-pointers in the contest to remain unbeaten on the season. Lewis led the Oles with 19 points and five rebounds, Koenen narrowly missed out on a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kelly came off the bench to add 13 points.

Lewis scored the first five points for the Oles as St. Olaf took an early 5-4 lead just over two minutes into the contest. Bethel answered with a 13-2 run and took a 16-7 lead following a Michaela Craigan three-pointer with 4:24 to go in the period. 

With 4:06 left in the first quarter, Lewis found Koenen for a basket, but the Royals ended the quarter on a 11-2 run and took a 16-point lead heading into the second quarter.

The Oles opened the second quarter with baskets from Lewis and Kelly to get back within 12 halfway through the period. After Bethel extended its lead to as many as 18, St. Olaf got a three-point play from first year Sophie Olmen, along with a pair of free throws from junior Keegan Mulvihill and a basket from Lewis, in the final two minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 13.

Koenen had nine of her 14 points in the third quarter, including St. Olaf's first four points in the second half. The Oles went on an 8-2 run that included six-straight made free throws from Lewis and senior Ella Skrien to get within 12 midway through the third quarter, but Bethel built its lead back to 18.

Kelly totaled eight points in the fourth quarter for St. Olaf, including back-to-back baskets three minutes into the period, but the Royals led by as many as 25, the final margin, down the stretch.

Koenen and Kelly combined for 9-of-12 shooting for St. Olaf in the second half. The Royals were led by Taite Anderson with a game-high 21 points and Kat Brown-Erdal with 20 points.

The Oles are back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 4 as they travel to Augsburg for a MIAC contest beginning at 5:45 p.m.