Blue Devils can't get back, fall to Bethel in Dells, 69-58

Bethel University 69, UW-Stout 58

WISCONSIN DELLS (December 29, 2016) - UW-Stout trailed by as much as 16 points in the second half and cut the lead to as close as five points in the fourth quarter. But the Blue Devils could not quite catch Bethel University and the Royals slid out of the JustAGame Fieldhouse with a 69-58 win Friday.

The Blue Devils (3-7) were led by Kyncaide Diedrich (So, Athens) with 15 points. Diedrich pitched in 13 points in the first half as Stout trailed the Royals (9-1) 34-27 at halftime. Bailey Diersen (So, Greenville) added 14 points for Stout and Jenna Goldsmith (Sr, St. Anthony, Minn) tossed in eight points and pulled down seven rebounds before fouling out. Freshman McKenna McVey (Elk Mound) led Stout off the glass with a collegiate-best eight rebounds. 

The Royals hit three 3-pointers to start the second half and the Blue Devils could just not quite recover.

Taite Anderson racked up a double-double for the Royals to lead all scorers, scoring 23 points and yanking down 16 rebounds. Abby Miller scored 13 points, nine in the second half and Hannah Johnson contributed 12 points. The Blue Devils held the Royals' leading scorer, Kalli Zimmerman to six points. Zimmerman was limited by four fouls, three by halftime.

PARTING SHOTS

• The meeting was the first-ever between the two schools that are separated by only 70 miles.
• When Jenna Goldsmith fouled out with minutes left in the game, it was only the third time this year a Stout player fouled out and for Goldsmith, only the third time in her career and the first since her sophomore year. 
• Goldsmith was credited with no blocked shots, but McKenna McVey notched two blocked shots to bring her season total to three.
• Becky Fesenmaier scored a collegiate-best six points, hitting one shot from the floor and all four free throw attempts
• Bethel won their eighth straight game.
• Stout last their previous game on Dec. 13 to Gustavus Adolphus College by an identical 69-58 score.
• The Blue Devils will meet Carleton College Friday, Dec. 30 at 11 a.m. at the JustAGame Fieldhouse.