BOX SCORE

The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (15-1 overall, 12-1 MIAC) edges the University of St. Thomas (11-4 overall, 10-2 MIAC) to take over the first-place spot in conference rankings with a 62-58 Blazer win.

CSB started the first two minutes of play with a 6-2 lead, but two minutes later UST tied the score at six.  The Blazers took the lead right back at 11-6, but the Tommies closed the gap at 14-13 with 13 minutes left on the clock.  Over the next four minutes, a 7-2 Blazer run brought the score to 21-15 with nine minutes to go.  Three minutes later, CSB had an eight-point lead of 29-21 with five minutes left on the clock.  For the remainder of the half, the Blazers continued to extend that lead, heading into the locker room with a 38-25 cushion over the Tommies.

The Blazers came out strong in the second half, picking up a 45-28 lead with 17:30 to go.  UST wouldn't back down, stringing together five consecutive points to cut the lead to 12 with 16 minutes left on the clock.  Eight minutes later, that lead had extedned to 16 with a 55-39 Blazer lead.  The Tommies battled back, executing a 15-3 run over the Blazers to cut the lead to 58-54 with three minutes lead on the clock.  Two minutes later, UST threatening the CSB lead as they cut the score within two points at 60-58.  The Tommies then missed three consecutive shots and were forced to foul the Blazers with six seconds remaining.  Senior wing Amy Stifter sunk her two freethrows and secure the 62-58 CSB win.

Stifter led the Blazers with 17 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.  Sophomore forward Morgan Dale added 13 points off of 5-for-6 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.  Senior post Heather Gillund contributed nine points.  The Tommies were led by Jazmin Townsend and Rachel Booth, who contributed 12 points each.

With this win, the Blazers slide into first place in the MIAC, knocking the Tommies into second.  Up next for CSB is a road game in St. Paul, MN against Hamline on Wed., Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.