St. Joseph, Minn. – The Saint Benedict basketball team kept their playoff hopes alive today (Feb. 15) with a 72-50 home win over Carleton.
 
The Blazers (12-11, 9-11 MIAC) played maybe one of their best games of the year, finishing the night shooting almost 48% (28-of-59) from the field, while also hitting 40% (11-of-27) of their three pointers. They held a 36-to-24 edge on the boards and never trailed in winning their second straight.
 
They move back above the .500 mark on the season with the win, and more importantly, gain another game in the MIAC playoff race. Augsburg and Gustavus each lost for the second straight time today, meaning the Blazers pass the Auggies for sole possession of seventh place, and are now within a game of tying Gustavus in sixth for the final playoff spot.
 
After coming out of halftime leading 33-28, the Blazers saw the Knights (5-18, 3-17 MIAC) scored the first five points of the half to tie the game less than two minutes into the period.
 
The Blazers quickly put to bed any thoughts of an upset, however, stringing together an 11-to-2 run to take a nine point lead with 14:08 to go. The Blazers went up by 10 a minute later after a Morgan Dale three and were up by double-digits the rest of the way out.
 
Dale finsihed with her 10^th double-double of the season, leading all players with 14 rebounds, while adding 13 points to lead the Blazers. Dale now has 271 total rebounds on the season, 29 shy of the CSB record of 300 with two guaranteed games to go.
 
Tish Alexander joined her in double figures with 11. Brianna Barrett chipped in seven and is now less than 20 points away from 1000 in her career, sitting with 982 in her career with two games to go.
 
Seven different players scored at least seven points in the win, as CSB outscored the Knights 39-22 in the second half. They connected on 53% (16-of-30) of their shots, while holding Carleton to just eight field goals (8-of-17) in the second half.
 
The Blazers uphill climb to the postseason continues next Wednesday, but at least they have two wins under their belt to lean on. They next play on the road, taking on Concordia at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 19 in Moorhead.