ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team started its season with a 69-64 nonconference win against UW-Stout Saturday afternoon.
 
Four players scored in double digits to lead the Blazers, who trailed heading into the fourth quarter but outscored the Blue Devils 23-15 to pull away for the win.
 
Stout (0-1) led by three, 49-46, heading into the final quarter, but Kate Banovetz hit a free throw and then a layup to tie the game at 49 early in the fourth. Another bucket by Banovetz gave CSB a 51-49 lead with 7:57 left, and after Stout tied the game a layup by Chelsey Guetter gave CSB the lead for good.
 
The Blue Devils tied the game at 56 with 4:26 left to play, but Guetter hit a free throw, and then a pair of free throws, and Tyla Wilder scored to push the lead to three. A layup by Niki Fokken and a free throw by Guetter with 1:35 left put the Blazers up six, 65-59, and they were able to hold off Stout down the stretch.
 
CSB (1-0) led by six early, 8-2, thanks to threes from Annie Dittberner and Grace Wolhowe. Stout went on a short run to take a lead and was able to grab an 18-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Blue Devils maintained a slim lead throughout the second quarter, and led CSB 33-30 at halftime.
 
Both teams scored 16 third-quarter points and Stout held onto its three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Blazers pulled ahead to pick up the win.
 
Annie Dittberner led CSB with 14 points and Banovetz (11), Guetter (10) and Fokken (10) also hit double digits in scoring. Fokken finished the night with a double-double as she also had 11 rebounds, and Banovetz also added eight rebounds. The Blazers shot 35.5 percent from the field and went 20-for-33 from the line.
 
Kyleigh Hebert had 13 points and six rebounds for Stout and Shannan Watkins added 10 points. Sarah Schoch led the Blue Devils on the glass with nine rebounds. Stout shot 33.3 percent from the field, including just 3-for-20 from long range, and went 9-for-16 from the line.
 
CSB returns to action twice this weekend as part of the Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Classic. The Blazers host Crown at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saint Mary's in a nonconference matchup at 3 p.m. Sunday in Claire Lynch.