| Get Email Alerts | Get Text Updates | Buy Photos |


St. Joseph, Minn. – Hosting the quarterfinals of the MIAC Tournament, the Saint Benedict basketball team scored its second comeback win in as many games, extending the season with an 86-79 win over Hamline tonight (Feb. 19).

"It felt really good to beat Hamline for the third time," Brianna Barrett said.

Early on, though, it didn't look as promising as the Blazers (20-6) had a field goal percentage of just 16.7%, and after the first six minutes trailed 11-4. They fought back to tie the game at 20-20 with 8:36 remaining in the first half, before finishing with a 9-to-2 run to grab a five-point lead at 25-20.

Heading into the locker rooms the Blazers still had a slim hold on to their lead, edging the Pipers (14-12) by three, 34-31 after the first 20 minutes. Four different players finished with at least seven points in a balanced first half, led by Morgan Dale with eight points and four rebounds.

| Blazers' Lean on Barrett, Balance |

The Blazers came out with an 8-to-2 run to the start the second half, kick started by consecutive baskets from Brianna Barrett, on the way to a 42-33 lead. Not long after, the Blazers strung together a 7-to-0 run, with five points from Barrett, as they ran out their biggest lead at 15-points at 62-47.

As the clock ran down the Pipers got close enough to make it interesting, and - forced to foul - sent Whitney Canton to the free throw line four times. Undaunted, she was perfect 8-of-8 down the stretch to seal the win, part of a perfect 13-of-13 night at the line.

By the end of the night, The Blazers finished with four players with 10 or more points, led by Barrett's career high 28 – the most for any Blazer this season.

"I didn't even notice that I had 28 points," Barrett said of her night. "They just let me play the way I love to play, driving and posting up."

Canton was not far behind, finishing with 23 points on the night, also a career high.

Morgan Dale added another 14 points and hit her now-routine 16 rebounds for the fourth time, logging her third double-double of the season.

The Blazers finished with a 50.0% field goal percentage and held Hamline to 43.1%. The Blazers also sank 26-of-32 free throws for a percentage of 81.3%. The Pipers ended the night just 55.6% at the free throw line.

With the win tonight, the Blazers move on to the MIAC Tournament semifinals, where they will take on top-seeded Concordia at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21 on the road in Moorhead. The two teams split wins this year, with each team winning at home.