ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team headed into Saturday's game at Bethel looking to secure the season sweep and snap the Royals' home winning streak, but Bethel had other ideas.
The Blazers hung around and looked ready to take control much of the game, but the Royals went on a late run to pull away for a 73-59 win in Arden Hills, Minn.
Saint Benedict is now 10-11 overall and 7-7 in the MIAC. The Blazers were sixth in the league heading into the game and looking to hold onto that spot, and need to buckle down and come up with a few wins in their final four games of the regular season. Bethel sits securely in second in the league with an 11-4 MIAC mark and a 17-4 overall record.
The game was a close one to start, and
Mattie Lueck had six of the Blazers' first seven points to tie the game at 7-7. A layup by Kalli Zimmermann gave Bethel its biggest lead of the game, 13-7, with just over 11 minutes left in the first half, and they pushed it to eight a short time later, but Lueck hit a three to cut the gap to five, 19-14, with 7:57 left in the first. The Royals made it a nine-point game, but a bucket by Lueck and a pair of free throws by
Kate Banovetz cut the lead back to five, 27-22, with 2:11 left in the first. The Royals went on a 6-0 run capped by a three-point play by Zimmermann to take a 32-22 lead into halftime.
Bethel made it a 12-point game early in the second half, but
Elena Koch scored and
Abby Miller hit a pair of free throws to cut the gap back to eight, 36-28, with 16:58 left to play. The Royals maintained at least an eight-point lead for the next several minutes, and began to pull away midway through the second half.
A three-point play by Hannah Niewald made it a 13-point game, 49-36, and Bethel picked up its biggest lead of the game, 56-41, with 7:04 remaining. A three by Zimmeramnn made it a 20-point game, and the Royals pushed their lead to 23 before settling for the final score.
Lueck finished with 15 points and six rebounds to lead Saint Benedict, which shot just under 30 percent from the field.
Annie Dittberner added 13 points and five rebounds and Miller chipped in with eight points. CSB went 17-for-24 from the line and had 48 rebounds and 18 turnovers.
Rachel Parupsky led all scorers with 22 points for Bethel and she also had 19 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Zimmermann added 18 points and six rebounds and Niewald finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. The Royans shot 38 percent from the field, went 16-for-20 from the line and had 52 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
The Blazers are back at home Wednesday, Feb. 11, when they host Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch.
