ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Three-point baskets seem to be key for the College of Saint Benedict basketball team’s offense so far this season.
Through 11 games, the Blazers have made 76 long-range shots – nearly double their opponents’ total of 41. CSB is averaging 6.9 3-pointers per game, while its opponents are making 3.7.
First year Grace Wolhowe is playing a big role in the Blazers’ strong three-point game so far in 2015-16, and the past two games were no exception. Wolhowe, who leads the team in total threes and three-point percentage, made seven long-range shots in two games and scored in double digits both games to help CSB finish 1-1 last week.
For a pair of big games, Wolhowe has been named CSB’s athlete of the week.
Wolhowe, a 5-foot-8 wing, helped the Blazers wrap up 2015 with a win against Minnesota-Morris by scoring 14 points in the 68-52 win Dec. 29 in Morris, Minn. She went 2-for-3 from long range and 5-for-7 from the field. She also had two rebounds and a pair of assists.
In the Blazers’ first game of 2016, Wolhowe, a Staples, Minn., native, was perfect from long range, scoring 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range. Nine of those points came in the first half to help Saint Benedict to a 45-39 halftime lead, though the Blazers would ultimately fall 74-64 to Buena Vista Sunday afternoon in Claire Lynch.
Wolhowe added four rebounds and three assists to her stat line Sunday, and finished the week averaging 13 points per game. She also had six total rebounds and five assists.
Heading into Wednesday’s game against Macalester, Wolhowe leads the league in three-point percentage (.489) and is tied for fifth in the conference with an average 2.0 3-pointers per game. Her 22 total 3-pointers is fourth in the MIAC and first among her teammates.
Wolhowe is second on the team in scoring (9.3), fourth in rebounds per game (3.4) and third on the Blazers’ roster with 1.7 assists per game. She has hit double digits in scoring six times with a career-high of 16 points Nov. 22 against Saint Mary’s. She has hit four 3-pointers in a game three times.
Wolhowe and her CSB teammates are back at home twice this week before hitting the road for five straight games. The Blazers host Macalester at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, and Concordia at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9. After that, CSB isn’t at home again until hosting Bethel on Jan. 30.
