BOX SCORE

The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (20-6 overall, 16-6 MIAC) edged Macalester 62-57 in the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinals.

The first half began with an 11-7 Blazer lead over the course of four minutes.  CSB then strung together a 6-0 run to lead 17-7 with 15 minutes left in the half.  The Blazers extended that lead to 13 points at 23-10 with 11:30 left on the clock.  The Scots were able to cut the lead to six points at 25-19 with six minutes to go, but CSB pushed ahead, compiling an 11-4 run to lead 36-23 with 2:30 left in the half before heading into the locker room with a 36-27 cushion.  Impressive shooting gave the Blazers the edge, shooting 52% from the field including 67% from beyond the arc.

The Blazers' lead fluctuated over the first six minutes of the second half, eventually sitting at 45-35 with 14 minutes to go.  CSB cabitalized on a 6-1 run to move ahead 51-36 with 9:30 left on the clock.  The Scots then capitalized on a 19-8 run to close the Blazers' lead to 59-55 with two minutes remaining.  Despite the close gap, CSB prevailed, fighting off Macalester to win 62-57.

Three Blazers scored in double digits, led by senior post Heather Gillund (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) with 17 points, while senior wing Amy Stifter (Watertown, MN, Watertown-Mayer) added 15 points and sophomore forward Morgan Dale (Jamestown, ND, Jamestown) contributed 14 points.  Stifter also grabbed six rebounds, while Dale pulled down five.  The Scots were led by Majra Mucic and Jessica Rene, who each had 17 points.

CSB now heads to the MIAC Playoff Semifinals with a road game in Moorhead, MN to take on the #2-seeded Concordia on Thur., Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m..  The winner of that game will play on Sat., Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. for the title.