Bella Karstien is in her second season as an assistant coach with the Furman women's lacrosse program. She primarily works with the Paladin defense.
During her first season on staff, Furman won a school record 14 games and captured a share of the Big South Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history. The Paladins advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship after going undefeated at home with a school record 10 victories and began the season 5-0, matching the best start in school history.
She coached two All-Big South selections in 2025 as defenders Andrea Fisher and Skylar Hilmer were both selected to the second team. Fisher concluded her career as the program’s all-time caused turnover leader and Hilmer’s 78 draws are the fourth-most for a season in program history.
Karstien’s hiring by head coach Gail Wallach was announced on July 18, 2024 following a four-year collegiate career that saw her log 65 career games at Louisville and Clemson.
She played two seasons at Clemson under head coach Allison Kwolek, starting in all 36 games for the Tigers at defense. A two-time Academic All-ACC selection, Karstien totaled 23 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, nine assists, and seven draws as Clemson combined to post a 23-13 record.
She transferred to Clemson after starting her career at Louisville. Karstien was an ACC All-Freshman Team selection and ACC All-Academic Team pick while appearing in 29 games with nine starts. She registered 15 goals with five assists highlighted by a 10-goal, three-assist campaign in 2021. She added seven points on five goals and two assists the following season.
Karstien was a three-time first team All-Berks County selection at Exeter Township Senior High School in Reading. The 2019 Berks Lacrosse Player of the Year compiled 205 goals and 64 assists throughout her prep career while earning back-to-back All-America citations in 2018 and 2019. Karstien posted a career best 74 goals and 22 assists in 2019.
She graduated from Clemson in 2024 with a degree in psychology.
