The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (4-5, 1-2 MIAC) nearly erased a 24-point second-half deficit today (Dec. 29th) against Wartburg College (9-1, 0-0 IIAC), but eventually lost by a 55-63 score. The game was the first round of the Wartburg Holiday Tournament. With the loss, the Blazers advance to the consolation game tomorrow (Dec. 30th) against Iowa Wesleyan.
 
The Blazers, playing without two of their top-three scorers in Emily and Mattie Lueck, struggled to score in the first-half, finding themselves down 33-to-13 at halftime. The Knights held the Blazers to just five field goals on 5-for-31 (16.1%) shooting from the floor in the first half.
 
The Knights extended their lead early in the second half. With 10:15 to play in the second half, a layup from junior forward Kailey Kladivo gave the Knights a commanding 53-29 lead, their largest lead of the game. The Blazers used eight points from sophomore guard Annie Dittberner to cut the lead to 61-41 with six minutes to play. Dittberner then hit back-to-back three pointers to spark a 14-0 Blazer run which narrowed the Knights lead to six with 36 seconds to play. Unfortunately, two free throws from the Knights sealed their victory and the Blazers lost 55-63
 
Dittberner led the team with a career-high 16 points off 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. First-year guard Abby Miller scored 14 and led the team with three assists. This game marks just the second time this year that the Blazers' leading scorer was not one of the Lueck sisters.
 
In the first game of the tournament No. 5 Washington University defeated Iowa Wesleyan by a 73-49 margin.
 
The Blazers return to action tomorrow (Dec. 30th) against Iowa Wesleyan. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.