The College of Saint Benedict basketball team will see it's first action of 2015 tomorrow (Jan. 3rd), when it will play host to the Bethel University Royals. This will be the Blazers first game back in Claire Lynch Hall, where they are 2-2 this season, since they defeated Martin Luther College at home on Dec. 9th.
 
The Schedule:
Blazers vs. Royals, 3 p.m. Claire Lynch Hall, St. Joseph
 
The Records:
Saint Benedict: 4-6, 1-2 MIAC
Bethel: 8-2, 2-1 MIAC
 
About the Royals:
Bethel's young team started to turn heads last year, finishing fourth and advancing to the MIAC semifinals. They have won five of their past six games and are 2-1 in the MIAC. Their resume is rounded out by a 51-47 victory over No. 21 St. Mary's. They are coming off a tournament in Southern California where they swept both games they played.
 
Who to Watch:
CSB:
So. G Annie Dittberner (Named to Wartburg Holiday Tournament All-Tournament team after scoring 28 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three-point-land)
Jr. F Mattie Lueck (Fifth in conference with 14.8 points and sixth with 7.4 rebounds per game)
Fy. G Abby Miller (First-year is second on the team with 10.6 points per game and second with 32.2 minutes per game)
 
BU:
Jr. C Rachel Parupsky (Sixth in conference with 14.6 points and third with 7.9 rebounds per game)
So. F Kalil Zimmerman (Closely trails Parupsky with 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game)
Jr. G Sydney Schultz (Led the team in scoring in latest victory over Chapman University)
 
The Storyline: Lueck and Parupsky are two of the MIAC's best-scoring and best-rebounding forwards. Today will be their fifth matchup since coming into the league together for the 2012-13 season, with the season series tied at 2-2. Both will need to have a good game on the glass in order for her team to emerge victorious.
 
Last Year: The Royals swept the season series last year. In early January, the Blazers traveled to Arden Hills and nearly stole one from the Royals on their home court, eventually losing 59-63. The Royals won the second game in St. Joseph by a 72-58 score. Parupsky had a combined 34 points and 17 rebounds and the Royals outrebounded the Blazers 91-79.
 
Last Time Out: Before the New Year, the Blazers traveled to Iowa to play in the Wartburg Holiday Tournament. In their first game, they nearly upset the home team Wartburg despite trailing by 24 points in the second half. The second game was close throughout, but the Blazers lost 61-59 to Iowa-Wesleyan College. Dittberner shot an impressive 66.6 percent from the floor and was named to the All-Tournament team.