Box Score	1st	2nd	Final
Gustavus	27	37	64
Saint Benedict	35	26	61

Back at Claire Lynch Hall today (Dec. 1) for another thrilling MIAC match-up, the Saint Benedict Blazers jumped out to a great start against the Gustavus Gusties, but were not able to hold onto their lead in the final few minutes.

Led by junior wing Brianna Barrett's career-high 19 points, the Blazers dropped their first MIAC game of the year, 64-61. The loss moves the Blazers to 3-2 overall on the season and 1-1 in the MIAC. The Gusties improve to 3-2 overall and remain undefeated with a 2-0 conference record.

The Blazers shot out of the gates ready to prove themselves against last year's conference runner-ups, but were perhaps a little bit too excited as they couldn't quite get their shots to fall, shooting 31% from the floor in the first half. Despite their off-night from the floor, the Blazers were able to take an eight-point lead at halftime, keyed by 11 offensive boards and 10 second chance points in the first half.

The Blazers took their largest lead of the game with 13 minutes left to play, stretching the score to 49-39 off of sophomore forward Elena Koch's jump shot. Koch finished with eight points and four rebounds off the bench and was a big reason the Blazer bench was able to outscore the Gustie bench 31-to-8.

Minutes later the Gusties used 12 unanswered points - highlighted by senior guard Julia Dysthe - to climb their way back into the game. Dysthe's jumper gave them the lead 58-57 with four minutes left to play.

With one minute to play and the Blazers down four, senior guard Jessica Fischer pick-pocketed Gustie guard Stephanie Comer, passing the ball up to senior wing Whitney Canton who was fouled by Rothenbuehler. Canton missed the first but made the second, bringing the Blazers to within three at 64-61 with 42 seconds to be played.

The Blazers chose not to foul, playing good team defense to force Comer to take a bad shot as the shot clock expired with 10 seconds left in the game.

Unfortunately, Gustie forward Kelsey Florian came down with the offensive board and passed it out, where teammate Britta Rinke dribbled out the clock without being fouled, ending the game in a 64-61 Gustie victory.

On the final seconds of the game junior wing Tish Alexander said, "We really didn't want to foul them because we didn't want them to go to the line. They were just really aggressive getting to the basket and we weren't really communicating on defense and because of that we didn't finish the way we wanted to."

Despite the big day from the Blazer bench, they were not able to slow Gusties talented combo of Dysthe and Rothenbuehler down the stretch, who combined for 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Gusties' outscored the Blazers 21-to-8 in the last 10 minutes, and shot an impressive 58% (14-of-24) from the field in the second half, including 50% (2-of-4) from beyond the arc.

The Blazers will return to Claire Lynch Hall at 7:30 p.m., Monday night (Dec. 3), and will host the Carleton Knights in another key conference match-up.