Precision offense allowed the College of Saint Benedict basketball team to cruise past Gustavus 68-45, thereby maintaining its first-place position in the MIAC and knocking Gustavus into second.

The first half was a nail-biter.  The teams exchanged basket for basket, with neither team leading by more than five points over the course of the 20 minutes.  After seven lead changes, Gustavus clinched a one-point lead over CSB 26-25 heading into halftime

Sophomore wing Amy Stifter (Watertown, MN, Watertown-Mayer) started the first ten seconds of the half with a three-pointer, and the Blazers owned the remainder of the game.  CSB took an 18-4 run over the next seven minutes, leading 43-30.  The Blazers continued to extend their lead until the buzzer, sealing a 68-45 win.

Up until tonight, Gustavus' tough and scrappy defense was forcing its opponents to average 22 turnovers per game.  The Blazers committed a mere 11.

CSB was led by junior wing Mindy Schmidt (Brooklyn Park, MN, Champlin Park) and sophomore post Heather Gillund (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine), each scoring 14 points.

Tonight, however, the senior duo stood out on the court.  Point guard Nikki Carter (Edina, MN, Edina) had zero turnovers in 30 minutes, as well as nine points and two assists.  Forward Ariel Tauer (Edina, MN, Edina), who played 25 minutes, had only one turnover on top of three steals, three assists, and nine rebounds.  (For St. Cloud Times article on Carter and Tauer click here)

"It was nice to be back home," head coach Mike Durbin commented.  "Now we have to take that same kind of attitude on the road."

The Blazers start a two-game road trip in St. Paul, Minn., competing against Bethel University on Wed., Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score