ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team improved its record to .500 and picked up some momentum heading into the holiday break with a pair of close wins this last week – including the team’s first MIAC win of the year.
Dominating the stat sheet and making plays down the stretch to lead the Blazers in those two wins was junior Mattie Lueck. The forward from Pequot Lakes, Minn., averaged a double-double to help CSB to a pair of wins. For her big plays and impressive stat lines, Lueck has been named the Blazer Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
Lueck and the Blazers started the week with a 47-42, nonconference win against Martin Luther College. Saint Benedict was down 21-15 at halftime, but came back in the second half to pull ahead for the win. Lueck had 11 points and seven rebounds in the second half, and finished the night with 16 points, 15 rebounds, five blocked shots, four steals and two assists.
Saint Benedict followed up the close nonconference victory with an even closer MIAC win Saturday afternoon against St. Kate’s. The Blazers were down at halftime, and the two teams battled to take control of the lead throughout the second half. CSB held a slim lead, but the Wildcats tied the game at 70 with 1:04 to play. Lueck, however, scored with 41 seconds left to put the Blazers up for good.
Lueck’s stat line Saturday night was also impressive. She finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and one blocked shot. For the week, she averaged 18.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocked shots.
Lueck is currently fifth in the MIAC in scoring at 15.2 points per game. She is also fourth in rebounding (8.1), seventh in assists (3.2) and fourth with 2.2 blocked shots per game.
The Blazers are off now until Monday, Dec. 29, when they travel to Waverly, Iowa, for the two-day Wartburg Holiday Tournament. CSB takes on host-school Wartburg at 4 p.m. Dec. 29, and either Iowa Wesleyan or Washington University at a time to be determined on Dec. 30. The Blazers return home – and to MIAC play – at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, when they host Bethel.
