ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia University women's basketball team won its home opener Thursday night with a 55-37 victory over Bethel University in non-conference action. The Golden Bears improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Royals fall in their first game of the year.

The Golden Bears took the opening tip and controlled the entire first half from the onset. A quick layup by Anika Whiting (Ashland, Wis.) assisted by Rachel Hansen (Eagan, Minn.) set the tone for the ensuing 5:30 as the Bears took a 15-4 lead. The pace slowed down from there as Concordia held the Royals scoreless for nearly nine minutes. Neither team was able to score from the 8:26 mark until the 4:38 mark as CU took its largest lead of the half, 23-6, on a jumper by Amanda Barton (Waterville, Minn.). In the final 2:54 of the half, Bethel outscored Concordia 4-to-2 and the Bears took a 25-10 lead into the break.

Concordia shot 12-for-33 (36.4%) from the floor in the first 20 minutes as the Royals were limited to 11.1% (3-27). Hansen and Whiting were the leaders with eight points apiece. Both teams were 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. CU outrebounded BU 26-to-20. The Bears also blocked six shots.

The Royals scored the first two points of the second half, but were once again held scoreless for a stretch of nearly five minutes. Concordia increased its lead to 22 points (34-12) before the Royals answered at the 15:06 mark. Bethel slowly chipped away at the lead over the next 10 minutes to cut the deficit to 13 points (48-35) with 3:49 left on the clock, but the Bears held on for the 18-point margin of victory.

Both teams improved their shooting from the floor in the second half. The Bears wound up shooting 39.1% (25-64) throughout the game, while the Royals shot 24.6% (14-57). Most of CU's points came in the paint as it scored 44 points in the lane. Concordia also won the battle down on the blocks, outrebounding the Royals 47-to-41, and had twice as many steals (18-9).

Whiting led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from the free throw line. The sophomore forward also nabbed a team-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, as well as leading the team with three assists and three blocks.
 
Hansen shot 77.8% from the field (7-9) for 14 points as the only other Golden Bear to reach double figure points.

Katelyn Vavra led the Royals with 13 points and Kelly Swenson grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Concordia continues play at the Gangelhoff Center over Thanksgiving weekend, hosting the Radisson Roseville Thanksgiving Classic. The Bears will take on William Penn (IA) on November 23 at 4:00 p.m. and then take on Nebraska-Kearney the following day.