After winning two straight games to end the first semester portion of their season, the College of Saint Benedict Basketball team will head to Waverly, Iowa this weekend to play in the Wartburg Holiday Tournament. The four-team field will pit the Blazers against the Wartburg Knights in the opening round tomorrow (Dec. 29th) at 4 p.m. Depending on the result of the first game, the Blazers will then play either Iowa Wesleyan or No. 5 Washington University of St. Louis on Tuesday (Dec. 30th).
 
Wartburg Holiday Tournament:
Monday, Dec. 29
2 p.m. No. 5 WashU vs. Iowa Wesleyan
4 p.m. Saint Benedict vs Wartburg
 
Tuesday, Dec. 30
1 p.m. Consolation game
3 p.m. Championship game
 
The Records:
Iowa Wesleyan: 5-3, 3-0 SLIAC
Saint Benedict: 4-4, 1-2 MIAC
Wartburg: 8-1, 0-0 IIAC
WashU: 9-0, 0-0 UAA
 
 
About the Knights:
The Knights roll into this tournament having lost only one game thus far. That loss came at the hands of No. 6 St. Thomas. They are led by an offense that ranks 23rd in the country with 76.7 points per game. Leading that offense is Kailey Kladivo who is second in the IIAC with 15.9 points per game and sixth in rebounds with 6.3 rebounds per game.
 
Who to Watch:
CSB:
Jr. F Mattie Lueck (Two-time Blazer Athlete of the Week ranks fifth in the conference with 15.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game)
Fy. W Abby Miller (First-year is averaging double digit points (10.6) and has shot an impressive 23-for-27 (85.2%) from the free throw line)
Fy. F Niki Fokken (Six-foot freshman has made an immediate impact on the boards, pulling down 5.8 rebounds per game)
 
WC:
Jr. F Kailey Kladivo (Second in the IIAC with 15.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game)
Jr. G Bobbie Burrows (Second on team with 12.0 points per game)
Fy. G Katie Sommer (First-year leads team with five assists per game)
 
Last Year:
The Blazers and the Knights haven't matched up since the 2009 UW-Stout Thanksgiving Tournament, when the Blazers bested the Knights by a 78-70 score. This will be the first time anyone on the current Blazer or Wartburg squad has seen each other. The all-time series between the Blazers and Knights is tied at 2-2.
 
The Storyline:
After finishing the first portion of the season with positive momentum, can the Blazers start the second half with an upset over one of the West Region's better teams? Although the Knights have been hot on offense, they are also averaging 18 turnovers per game. Key to the upset for the Blazers will be converting those turnovers into points on the offensive end of the court.
 
Last Time Out:
The Saturday after finals (Dec. 13th) the Blazers notched their first MIAC victory with a 73-70 win over St. Catherine. With the game tied at 70, Mattie Lueck scored to put the Blazers up 72-70. Sophomore guard Annie Dittberner sealed the victory with a free-throw on the next possession. Mattie Lueck led the team with 21 points on 9-for-13 (69.2%) and 8 rebounds.