Box Score
After its first meeting with Bethel University this season, the St. Catherine University basketball team knew a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win would be within reach if the right pieces fell into place in the late-season rematch.
 
Despite a strong first half, the Royals outscored the Wildcats late in the second half to hand them a heartbreaking 67-63 MIAC, Wednesday evening at the Butler Center.
 
Three Wildcats reached double-digits including Mary Neumann (Duluth, Minn.) with her career-best performance and her second double-double of the season. The sophomore forward led the way with 17 points and 13 rebounds – seven of which were offensive – in the Wildcats' second-best team scoring effort this season.
 
In the opening minutes of the competitive contest, it appeared as though Bethel might run away with an early lead. The Wildcats used a 6-0 run, though, to cut the Royals' seven-point lead to one with 13:10 to play in the first.
 
In the final seven minutes of the half, the Wildcats went on a 15-2 run to take their largest halftime lead of the season into the break by a score of 34-25.
 
The Wildcats appeared to be in control as they would push their lead to 13 early in the second half, but the Royals found a way to claw their way back until they eventually went up by one with 8:54 to play.
 
The Royals never looked back en route to victory though, despite the Wildcats' best efforts to regain the lead.
 
Sarina Baker (Plymouth, Minn.) also put up 17 points for the Wildcats, pulled in five rebounds and was 7-for-9 from the free throw line.
 
 Junior Kristen Lee (Dawson, Minn.) continued her consistently impressive play as she scored 15 points and shot 60 percent on the night. She also was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
 
Amanda Padilla (Oxnard, Calif.) scored a season-best six points and led the Wildcats in assists (4) and steals (3).
 
The Royals were led by one of the league's leading scorers as Rachel Parupsky knocked down 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The first-year center was 10-of-15 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.
 
The Wildcats will hit the road for two games before wrapping up the 2012-13 season at home against the University of St. Thomas. St. Catherine returns to action against Gustavus Adolphus College at 3 p.m. on Saturday in St. Peter, Minn.
 
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