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Rematch: Today (Feb. 6) the second-place Saint Benedict Basketball team (17-4, 15- MIAC) hosts the first-place Concordia Cobbers (17-4, 16-2 MIAC), in a matchup with huge postseason implications. The Blazers are just a game back from the Cobbers in conference standings. A win today would pull them into a first-place tie and put them in a good position to win the MIAC regular season championship and earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. A loss would drop them into a three-way tie for second-place and put a MIAC title all but mathematically out of reach.
About Concordia: After openeing their season with three losses in their first six games the Cobbers went 14-1 over their next 15 games. They are currently riding an eight game win-streak, second-highest in the conference next to the Blazers' nine. The brief hiccup was a 73-66 overtime loss at home against Hamline in which they got outscored 13-to-0 over the last three minutes of the game. The highlight of their winning streak was a victory over then-No.12 ranked St. Thomas 69-62.
Last Time: On Jan. 9, the Blazers (then 6-2) traveled to Moorhead, Minn. to play the 7-1 Cobbers. Both teams were riding season-long winning streaks, to the tune of three games for the Blazers and five games for the Cobbers. In the first half the Cobbers made 12-of-13 from the free throw line and took a 41-28 halftime lead. With the game seemingly slipping out of control,
Brianna Barrett and
Morgan Dale sunk back-to-back three-pointers, spurring a 21-4 run that cut the deficit to 58-54 with 10 minutes left to play. Unfortunately the Blazers weren't able to close out the game, and eventually lost 81-68.
Storyline: Who is really the best team in the MIAC? The team that loses this game will have a tough time winning the MIAC regular-season championship. The Cobbers have only lost two games this year, one in overtime and one to a nationally-ranked team. The Blazers have had lapses against Gustavus and St. Mary's, but they led in the final minutes of those games. They've also beat a top-five team and have won nine straight games. In Claire Lynch Hall they have yet to lose in 2013
(knock on wood).
Who to Watch:
Brianna Barrett continues to lead the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game. She is currently placed fifth among the conference leaders in scoring. She has led the team in 11 of 18 conference games this year. On Monday,
Whitney Canton had her ninth 10-plus scoring night with 19 points. Over the win streak she has averaged 15.1 points per game.
Morgan Dale extended her streak of impressive rebounding, picking up nine total rebounds. She is currently tied for fourth among the conference leaders. On the offensive end, she also scored 16 points in the first meeting with the Cobbers.
Last Time Out: On Monday the Blazers hosted Augsburg in their first home game after a three-game road trip. The Blazers jumped out to a 44-32 halftime lead, the best start offensively the Blazers have had this year. The Blazers closed the game 88-55, using points scored by thirteen different players.
Whitney Canton led all scorers with 19 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the year. The Blazers also had one of their best defensive efforts of the season, holding the Cobbers to 30% from the floor and 13.3% from the three-point line.
