St. Paul, Minn. – The Saint Benedict basketball team earned a milestone win on Wednesday night (Jan. 8), earning career win No. 600 for head coach Mike Durbin after beating Macalester 65-40.
 
The Blazers were in control for the entire game, leaving no doubt that tonight would be the night that coach Durbin joined the 600-win club. It was Durbin's third try at 600, as the Blazers (6-4, 3-4 MIAC) also ended a brief two-game losing skid tonight in the process.
 
After the score sat tied 2-2 just minutes into the game, the Blazers ripped off a 10-0 run to take a 12-2 lead just five minutes in, and they would never trail. Back-to-back three's by Emily Lueck (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) capped the run as CSB showed early that they were taking charge of the game. The Blazers would eventually extend their lead to 19-4 before a short run by the Scots (2-8, 1-6 MIAC) brought them back within single digit for a short period.
 
The Blazers would answer with a 16-to-3 run that stretched from the 10 minute mark of the first half to the 19 minute mark, going back up 35-14. They would lead by double-figures for the rest of the game.
 
In the second half the game was never in doubt as the Blazers scored the first five points and were in charge by a 20-point margin the entire way.                                        
 
In probably their most complete game of the season, the Blazers finished with a 44% (25-of-57) shooting mark from the floor, while holding the Scots to under 20% (12-of-61), which included a 2-of-10 mark from behind the arc. They outrebounded the Scots 48-to-40 and dominated under the basket with a 32-to-16 edge in points in the paint.
 
Only one player for Macalester finished in double figures, with Veronika Jakubovie leading the way with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Blazers, meanwhile, had a trio of players reach double figures, led by Morgan Dale (Jamestown, N.D.) and Lueck with 13 points each. Brianna Barrett (Annandale, Minn.) added 11 points and a team high seven rebounds.
 
In all, 10 different players scored for the Blazers on the night, as Coach Durbin was able to empty the bench and get everyone involved in the special night.
 
He becomes the 47th coach across all levels of women's basketball to reach 600 wins, but just the 12th in Division III. With a career record of 600-174, he owns a winning percentage of .751, and with his 600th win in his 774th career game, he is the 15th fastest coach to accomplish the feat.
 
Durbin and the Blazers will now move their attention to win No. 601, as they host St. Olaf on Saturday (Jan. 11) in a 3 p.m. match-up in Claire Lynch Hall.