ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Coe College women's basketball team saw its magical 2025-26 season come to an end Saturday evening at No. 23 Bethel University, falling 57-48 to the Royals in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Kohawk women started well in the first quarter, outscoring Bethel 12-8 in a scrappy low-scoring period that featured six early points for each of Coe's leading scorers in
Caydee Kirkham and
Audrie Helmrichs. The Royals responded with an impressive second quarter, outscoring Coe 22-10 while limiting the Kohawks to just three field goals with seven turnovers. The Kohawks kept fighting in the third quarter but foul trouble for Helmrichs stymied the offense which managed to stay level with the Royals with 10 points in the period. Bethel maintained a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game, fending off every charge Coe could find as the Kohawks never got closer than seven in the final period. Kirkham finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists in her final game as a Kohawk and was followed by
Audrie Helmrichs who had 16 points and eight rebounds despite running into foul trouble.
Taryn Kravig added five points for Coe's other major scoring contribution, hitting the team's lone 3 of the contest.
GAME FACTS
NO. 23 BETHEL 57 - COE 48
- The Royals opened on top, scoring six of the first eight points to lead early. Kirkham and Helmrichs responded over the final six-plus minutes of the quarter, combining for a 10-2 run to end the period with a 12-8 lead. Bethel scored nine unanswered to begin the second quarter, quickly flipping the score in its favor at 17-12 with 6:52 left in the half. Coe steadied the ship but couldn't make inroads, falling further behind as the Royals outscored the Kohawks 13-10 to lead 30-22 at the break. Coe threatened to make a comeback early in the third, making it a five-point game with 3:12 to play before Helmrichs picked up her fourth. The game slowed down over the next phase, with Bethel scoring the lone bucket of the final three-plus minutes to lead 40-32 after three. Kravig hit the team's lone 3 early in the fourth, trying to spark a late comeback from Coe as she made it 44-37 with 8:08 to play. Bethel didn't waiver, hanging on with clutch shots including a 3 at the 6:59 mark to restore a double-digit lead before holding the Kohawks to just eight points in the final 5:36.
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