After a big double-digit win over Bethel on Saturday, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team will have its first opportunity to build on that momentum tomorrow (Wed. Jan. 7th), when they will travel to St. Paul to take on the Hamline University Pipers. Both teams are among six MIAC teams that are 2-2 and tied for fourth-place in the conference.
 
The Schedule:
Blazers @ Pipers, 7 p.m., St. Paul, Minnesota
 
The Records:
Saint Benedict: 5-6, 2-2 MIAC
Hamline: 7-4, 2-2 MIAC
 
About the Pipers:
After finishing ninth in the twelve-team conference last year, Hamline was picked to improve and finish seventh this year, just outside of the playoffs. The Pipers have won four of their past five and are coming off a 77-38 drubbing of Macalester. They are led by athletic senior guard Jordan Sammons, who already has 1,000 career points, is leading the MIAC in scoring for the second straight year.
 
Who to Watch:
CSB:
Sr. W Emily Lueck (Sharpshooter led the team against Bethel with 14 points on 3-for-4 shooting from three-point land)
Jr. F Mattie Lueck (Leads the team in all three major statistical categories with 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game)
Fy. G Abby Miller (First-year is second on team with 31.3 minutes and second with 10.6 points per game)
 
HU:
Sr. G Jordan Sammons (Leads MIAC with 24.9 points per game and is second with 9.5 rebounds per game)
So. G Chelsey Bonsante (Third in conference with 16.9 points per game)
So. G Chloe Graves (Ranks second in conference with 4.1 assists per game)
 
The Storyline:
Both teams are coming off big victories and in need of a win to separate themselves from the tight MIAC field. Led by Sammons, Hamline features one of the most athletic frontcourts the Blazers will face this year. They currently lead the conference with 71.9 points per game. The Blazers will need to force the Pipers to spread the ball around to somebody other than Sammons and Bonsante in order to keep the Piper attack at bay.
 
Last Year:
The Blazers swept the Pipers last year, winning 79-78 at home in early December and then traveling to Saint Paul in late January to beat the Pipers 68-58. Hamline's "Big Three" of Sammons, Graves and Bonsante scored a combined 91 points over both games, but the Blazers were able to hold the rest of the Pipers at bay and sweep the series. Key to the victory was a Blazer defense that held the Pipers to 13-of-49 (26.5%) shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
 
Last Time Out:
On Saturday, the Blazers began the New Year firing on all cylinders. They quickly took a 14-6 lead over the Royals, a lead they would never relinquish. The Blazers shot 24-for-32 from the free-throw line and made 5-of-6 down the stretch to finish the Royals. They were 4-of-8 (50.0%) from three-point land in the first half, including 3-of-4 shooting from Emily Lueck. First-year forward Niki Fokken and Mattie Lueck each pulled down seven rebounds.