INDIANOLA, Iowa – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team used a big second quarter to propel itself to a 73-63 win over Buena Vista Friday evening. The win – which was CSB's first game at the Simpson Classic in Indianola, Iowa – pushed the team's record to 4-0 overall.
 
After a close start to the game, Saint Benedict went on a 6-0 run that included a pair of baskets from Breanna Gates to go up 12-6 with 4:34 left in the first quarter. The Beavers fought their way back, however, and stayed within two, 16-14, at the end of the quarter.
 
Kate Banovetz converted a three-point play to start the second and make it a seven-point game, but Buena Vista (2-3) cut the gap to four several times. CSB maintained slim lead throughout the first half of the quarter, but after BVU got within six with 5:28 left, Saint Benedict went on a 10-0 run to go up 36-20 with 2:50 left. CSB outscored BVU 24-11 in the second and led 40-25 at halftime.
 
Buena Vista cut the gap to single digits a few times in the third quarter, but Niki Fokken and Banovetz hit free throws and Banovetz scored a pair of baskets to push the team's lead back to 16, and Saint Benedict cruised from there.
 
Fokken finished with 13 points to lead the team, Chelsey Guetter added 10 and Banovetz and Sindey Schiffler each finished with nine. Guetter also had 10 rebounds, Fokken had nine and Maddie Schmitz finished with eight. CSB shot 37 percent from the field and went 14-for-22 from the line. The team had 51 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
 
Jasmine Demers led Buena Vista with 15 points and Claudia Larsen finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Beavers shot 38.6 percent from the field and went 15-for-24 from the line. They had 39 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
 
CSB returns to action Saturday, Nov. 25, when it takes on host-school Simpson at 3 p.m.