Northfield, Minn. – The Saint Benedict basketball team made a great comeback today (Feb. 8), but every time they pulled the score to even, host St. Olaf had an answer, eventually handing the Blazers a 68-62 loss.
The Blazers (10-10, 7-10 MIAC) trailed by as much as 16 in the first half, but were able to come all the way back in the second. Twice they were able to tie the score, but each time the Oles (13-8, 11-7 MIAC) responded with a bucket to go ahead, never trailing in the second half.
The Oles ran out to a big halftime lead at 37-23 holding the Blazers to a 37% (9-of-24) shooting mark in the first. The Oles countered with a 38% (15-of-39) mark from the floor - which included seven three-pointers – in building up the 14-point edge at the break.
In the second half the Blazers improved to shoot 47% (14-of-30) and methodically crawled their way back.
Brianna Barrett (Annandale, Minn.) finally brought the Blazers all the way back when her jumper in the lane fell to tie the game 49-49. The bucket was two of Barrett's 15 points on the night.
The Oles would answer and go up by as much as six, but a 6-to-0 Blazer run, capped by another Barrett lay-in again tied the score at 57-57.
Again, St. Olaf responded, this time with a three-pointer the next time down the floor, and they would lead the rest of the way. The closest the Blazers would get would be within one after a pair of
Mattie Lueck (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) free throws made it 60-59 with three minutes to go.
Lueck finished with 22 in the night to lead the Blazers, tying a career high and topping 19 points for the fourth time in the last six games.
Tish Alesander (Minneapolis, Minn.) added 14 points, and
Morgan Dale (Jamestown, N.D.) pulled down 14 boards to lead all players and hit double-digits for the 11th time in 20 games on the season.
The Blazers will get to return home as they try to get out of their funk, playing a trio of games in Claire Lynch Hall next week. It all starts on Monday (Feb. 10) with a 7:30 p.m. meeting with Augsburg. The two teams just played on Wednesday, with the Auggies taking 64-56 win.
