MOORHEAD, Minn. – Earlier this season, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team surprised a lot of people with a 20-point win over Concordia in Claire Lynch Hall. Saturday afternoon, the Cobbers got their revenge.
Saint Benedict went to Moorhead looking to wrap up a season sweep of the Cobbers, but Concordia had other ideas. The Blazers shot just over 37 percent from the field in a 61-50 loss to the Cobbers Saturday in Moorhead.
The loss marks the third straight for CSB, which is 14-9 overall and 9-7 and in sixth in the MIAC with two games left in the regular season. The Blazers are one game ahead of Augsburg, which is in seventh with an 8-8 record. CSB ends the regular season against the Auggies on Feb. 20. Concordia secured a playoff spot and is 16-7 overall and 12-4 in the MIAC. The Cobbers, St. Thomas, Saint Mary's and Gustavus have all locked up spots in the postseason tournament.
After Concordia started Saturday's game on a 7-0 run, the Blazers got back in the game and made it 11-9 after one quarter, thanks in large part to
Chelsey Guetter's seven first-quarter points. The Cobbers hit a three to start the second quarter, and later pushed their lead to eight – 21-13 – with 4:53 left, but CSB answered with a 6-0 run to make it a two-point game with just under three minutes left in the half. Concordia went into halftime with a 26-21 lead.
Morgan Merritt started the second half by converting a three-point play and making it a two-point game, 26-24, but from there, the Cobbers went on a 12-2 run that ended with a 38-26 lead for Concordia with 5:02 left in the third. Merritt hit a three to stop the run, but another three a few minutes later push Concordia's lead back to double digits, and the Cobbers led 44-33 after three quarters.
A three by
Grace Wolhowe midway through the fourth quarter cut Concordia's lead to nine, 52-43, but the Cobbers pushed the lead back to double digits and were able to hold on for the win.
Guetter finished with 13 points to lead CSB, which hit three 3-pointers and went 9-for-11 from the line.
Niki Fokken and Wolhowe added eight points each and Guetter also had eight rebounds. The Blazers had 27 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
Jenna Januschka led Concordia with 15 points and Olivia Johnson and Greta Walsh each added 12. Johnson also had seven rebounds. The Cobbers shot nearly 48 percent from the field and went 13-for-19 from the line. They had 34 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
CSB ends the regular season with a pair of home games. The Blazers host Gustavus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, and Augsburg at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.
