The NAIA #5 ranked Bethel College Pilots were too much for the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team to handle over the weekend and the Lady Cougars came out on the bottom end of a 44-78 decision on the road in Mishawaka, Indiana on Saturday.

It was the first half where the Pilots would do much of their damage, as the hosts shot a scorching 69% from the field in the opening stanza, pulling away to a 46-19 lead at the intermission.

Spring Arbor was able to recover and stabilize the game somewhat in the second half, but had no answer for Bethel's Natalie Young who dumped in a game high 23 points in 23 minutes of play.

The Cougars were led by freshman Andrea Kazmierski's 11 points. Kazmierski (right) was the only Cougar to hit double digits in scoring, however Kristen Miller dropped in eight, and the tandem of Jen Moor and Tristen Smith poured in six each.

Spring Arbor shot a chilly 32% from the floor for the game and were out-rebounded 49-26 in the contest.

"Bethel is a very good basketball team," commented Spring Arbor head coach Tara Kreklau. "They are at the top of a very good conference for a reason, and their national ranking is well deserved."

Spring Arbor finishes their conference season with a 5-11 MCC mark and will enter the MCC post season conference tournament as the #7 seed. They will travel to Marion, Indiana to take on the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats in a first round matchup on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.