The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (1-0 overall, 0-0 MIAC) defeated UW-Eau Claire 74-67 in their season opener in Eau Claire, Wis.

The Blazers began the half with a 12-6 lead over the Blugolds.  With a 20-15 CSB lead, the Blazers jumped a 9-2 lead to move ahead 29-17.  CSB kept pushing ahead, eventually picking up a 41-27 lead as they headed into the locker room.

The Blugolds began the second half with a 7-2 run over the Blazers, but CSB held Eau Claire off, maintaining a 50-41 lead with 14 minutes remaining.  At this point, the Blazers jumped a 12-4 run to extend their lead to 17 with a 63-46.  Eau Claire battled back, closing the gap to six, but CSB stayed strong, winning 74-67.

The Blazers were led by junior wing Amy Stifter (Watertown, MN, Watertown-Mayer), who score 28 points and was 5-for-5 from behind the arc, picking up 19 points and all five three-pointers in the first half alone.  Junior post Heather Gillund (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) contributed 10 points, while junior wing Joelle Waytashek (Lino Lakes, MN, Centennial) added nine points and was 7-for-7 from the freethrow line.

CSB next heads to Stout, Wis., for the UW-Stout Invitational on Nov. 28-29.

Box Score