College of Saint Benedict

The 1998-99 basketball team, which was coached by Mike Durbin, advanced to the NCAA DIII Final Four for the second time in six years.

During a 28-2 season (tied for the program’s all-time best winning percentage), CSB won the MIAC title at 21-2 for a second straight conference crown.

This team, which opened 11-0 before winning 17 straight before loss in the DIII Championship. It is the only team in any sport in school history to finish as high as second nationally. CSB Hall of Famer Laura Wendorff (16.14 ppg, 8.9 rpg), who was MIAC Player of the Year, and first-team KODAK All-American, and named All-American by two associations, was selected All-MIAC along with teammates Molly Mark (12.45 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Robyn Ruschmeier (13.86 ppg., 7.1 rpg).

CSB, which was 4-1 in the NCAA DIII Championship run, became the first CSB team to finish as high as second in the nation. The Bennies, which were ranked No. 1 in preseason national polls, began the season by winning the National Catholic Tournament in impressive style, and then went on to capture their fifth MIAC championship, and their first back-to-back crown. In the road to the championship, CSB advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th straight season.

CSB had home playoff wins over St. Thomas, DePauw and Pacifici Lutheran to reach the NCAA DIII Final Four for the second time in six years Upon their arrival in Danbury, Conn., and Western Connecticut State University, CSB downed Salem State (Mass.) 75-54. Then in the national championship game, Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) ended the CSB’s hopes of a championship title, 74-65.

CSB was 14-0 at home. Mark and Ruschmeier were selected to the Final Four All Tournament Team. It is a team that had a 78.5-to-56.7 ppg margin and a 43.4-to-36.0 rpg while shooting 33.7 percent from three-point range and 47.0 percent overall.

Nine times Wendorff had 20 points or more and six times of 13 or more rebounds. Ruschmeier had six 20 point games and had 20 points and 20 rebounds (team individual season high) in a win over Macalester