ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the College of Saint Benedict basketball season is off to a 4-0 start.
CSB's latest win came Tuesday night when it defeated Minnesota-Morris 67-53 in Claire Lynch to send the team into Thanksgiving break – and the start of MIAC play next week – with momentum on its side. The win also pushes CSB's home record to 3-0 so far this season, a streak Saint Benedict will look to extend as its next three games are also at home.
Four players scored in double digits for CSB Tuesday, but leading the way was senior
Macy Kelly. The Red Wing native scored a career-high 18 points to help her team stay perfect.
Kate Banovetz added 12 points and
Sidney Schiffler and
Niki Fokken each added 10.
After a tight start to the game, Banovetz hit a layup and Schiffler hit two free throws to put CSB up 17-11 after one quarter, and Fokken scored and
Alison Newton hit a three to start the second and make it an 11-point game, 22-11. Morris cut into the lead, but free throws by
Annie Dittberner and another bucket by Fokken pushed the lead to 12 points, and that's where the lead stayed, 34-22, heading into halftime.
A basket by Fokken and a pair of free throws from Kelly made it a 17-point game midway through the third quarter, and Schiffler hit back-to-back threes to make it an 18-point game, 47-29.
Morris wasn't done yet, however. The Cougars (0-4) hit a three to end the third and cut the gap to 14, and that sparked a 9-1 that went into the fourth quarter and made it a nine-point game, 52-43, with 7:52 left to play. Morris got within eight, and later made it a seven-point game, 60-53, with 2:19 left, but
Chelsey Guetter scored and CSB went 5-for-8 from the line in the final 1:25 to seal the win.
Guetter led the team with 11 rebounds and Dittberner, Banovetz and
Alex Johnson all had three assists for CSB, which shot 40 percent from the field, went 15-for-22 from the line and had 37 rebounds and 11 turnovers.
Kendra Raths led Morris with 13 points and Tori Holt added 12 points and eight rebounds. The Cougars shot 39 percent from the field and went 4-for-7 from the line.
CSB is off for Thanksgiving break, and returns to action Wednesday, Nov. 30, when it hosts St. Kate's at 7 p.m. to start the MIAC season.
