College of Saint Benedict Athletics

St. Joseph, Minn. -- The Saint Benedict basketball team (3-0, 0-0 MIAC) cruised to their third straight victory today (Nov. 23) with a 59-40 victory over the Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons (0-4, 0-0 WIAC), closing out their non-conference schedule with an undefeated record. The win is Head Coach Mike Durbin's 597th of his career, just three shy of the 600-win milestone.
 
The Blazer defense dominated in the first half, and held the Falcons to just two points through the first 10 minutes. With 10:19 to play in the half first-year forward Annie Dittberner (New Prague, Minn.) nailed a three-pointer to give her team a 12-2 double digit lead. Three minutes later the Falcons cut the Blazers' lead to 13-9 off a three-pointer from first-year guard Courtney Kanipes. The Blazers responded with a 9-0 run to bring their lead to 22-9, and never let the Falcons creep back within single-digits the rest of the way.
 
To open the second-half the Blazers went on a 14-to-2 run to break open a 24 point lead (43-19) and thwarted every Falcon attempt to claw their way back in the game. The Blazers closed out the game 59-40 and picked up the win. Fifteen different Blazers saw the floor.
 
Dittberner lead all scorers with 14 points, setting a new season and career high for herself. She also hit 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc (80.0%), the most three-pointers made by a Blazer this year.
 
For senior forward Morgan "Windex" Dale (Jamestown, N.D.) played in her first game without a double-double this year, but still led the team with eight rebounds and put up seven points.
 
Senior wing Brianna Barrett (Annandale, Minn.) added 10 points on 4-of-8 (.500) shooting, her seventh straight game dating back to last year with double-digit points.
 
The Blazers held the Falcons to 37.5% shooting from the floor, holding their opponents to less than 40% shooting for the third time in their three games this year. The Blazer offense on the other hand, shot 46.7%, the third time this year they've shot over 40%.
 
The Blazers will now take a two-week break, before returning to Claire Lynch Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.