MORRIS, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team wrapped up the 2015 portion of its schedule with a win Tuesday night. The Blazers, who improved to 7-3 overall, defeated Minnesota-Morris 68-51 in a nonconference matchup in Morris, Minn.
 
Alison Newton hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring for CSB, and the Blazers never looked back as they outscored the Cougars (4-5) 23-8 in the first quarter. Chelsey Guetter and Ke'Avae Taylor each added a three in the first quarter to help build a solid lead.
 
Grace Wolhowe started the second quarter with a pair of threes to push the Blazers' lead to 18, 29-11. Morris was able to cut the gap to 12, 36-24, late in the first, and the Blazers led 37-24 at halftime.
 
Kate Banovetz scored the first six points of the third quarter to push CSB's lead to 12, 43-31, after the Cougars made it a 10-point game early in the third. The Cougars kept the lead around 13 points in the third quarter, but Banovetz scored and Annie Dittberner hit a three to start the fourth and make it an 18-point game, 56-38.
 
Banovetz finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Blazers, who shot nearly 41 percent from the field. Wolhowe added 14 points and Niki Fokken finished with nine points and seven rebounds. CSB hit eight 3-pointers and went 12-for-20 from the line. The Blazers had 39 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
 
Elli Stevenson led Morris with 11 points and Kayla Kraemer added 10. Kendra Raths led the team with eight rebounds. The Cougars shot 36 percent from the field, hit four 3-pointers and went 7-for-12 from the free-throw line. Morris had 37 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
 
The Blazres return to action and are back at home Sunday, Jan. 3, when they host Buena Vista in their final nonconference game of the season. Buena Vista plays Concordia in a neutral nonconference game at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2.