BOX SCORE
The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (21-6 overall) lost a close overtime game to the University of St. Thomas 65-62 in the MIAC Playoff Championship.
Both teams started the game slow in the scoring department as the Blazers led the Tommies 5-1 over the first five minutes of the half. The Blazers maintained their distance, compiling a 6-0 run to pull ahead 11-1. UST wouldn't let the margin grow, coming back to tie the score at 17 with eight minutes left on the clock. The remainder ended with two lead changes and three tied scores as the teams headed into the locker room both stuck at 26.
UST started the second half strong with a 5-0 run, but CSB scored five consecutive points to tie the score at 31 with 16 remaining. Three minutes later the score was still tied, this time at 36. The Tommies found another 5-0 run, but the Blazers stopped the UST effort, tying the score again at 42 with nine to go. Five minutes later, the score was tied at 49. The lead moved back and forth, but the Blazers couldn't pull ahead further than two points, and the Tommies forced the game into overtime with 55 points
The overtime effort started with two lead changes before the score settled in favor UST at 58-57. CSB was able to close the gap within one at 63-62, but two made UST freethrows finished the score at 65-62, giving the Blazers second place int he MIAC Playoff Championship.
CSb was led by junior wing
Amy Stifter (Watertown, MN, Watertown-Mayer), who had 13 points and seven rebounds. Juniors
Laura Canton (Pine Island, MN, Pine Island) and
Heather Gillund (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) contributed 11 and 10 points respectively. First-year forward
Morgan Dale (Jamestown, ND, Jamestown) dominated the board for the Blazers with nine rebounds, also contributing eight points.
The NCAA Tournament begins next week on Fri., March 5. The bracket and location will be announced on Mon., March 1. Watch
www.csbblazers.com to see if the Blazers make the cut, or check out the webcast on
www.ncaa.com at 11:30 a.m. Central Time.
