St. Joseph, Minn. – The Saint Benedict basketball team fell 72-58 at home to Bethel tonight (Feb. 1).
 
The Royals took what was a close game and blew it open with a 20-to-5 run over the final seven minutes of the first half to take a 46-27 lead into halftime. After Mattie Lueck (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) scored to pull the Blazers within four at 26-22 the Royals started their run.
 
Seven straight points stretched the lead to 10 at the 4:58 mark, and they would lead by double digits the rest of the way. Over the final 2:56 of the first half, they held the Blazers scoreless, putting in the final seven points of the period to take a 19-point lead.
 
The Blazers were able to improve their shooting in the second half – hitting 36% (12-of-33) of their shots compared to 32% (9-of-28) in the first – but it wasn't enough to overcome the Royals 60% (20-of-33) mark it the opening 20 minutes.
 
The loss overshadowed another monster game from Lueck. The do-it-all sophomore finished with a career high 22 points to lead all scorers, and is averaging over 20 points per game over the last three. Now averaging a career best 11.4 points per game on the season, she went 8-of-15 from the field and 6-of-7 at the line, while also adding four rebounds and a block to her night.
 
Morgan Dale added her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and a game high 11 rebounds, posting double-digits on the boards for the ninth time this season.
 
The Blazers will look to get back on track when they return home on Monday (Feb. 3). In a quick turn-around – and the Blazers' first Saturday-Monday set since early December – they host Gustavus at 7:30 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall.