ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team is looking to continue the success it found last weekend when it traveled to Iowa for the Simpson Invitational. The 5-0 CSB basketball team continues the nonconference season Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Claire Lynch Hall when facing off against UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.
Saint Benedict heads into Wednesday's game with a confidence boost after jumping into the d3hoops.com top 25 poll for the first time since 2010-11 Tuesday. CSB received three points and is in the "Others Receiving Votes" section of the poll.
About UW-Eau Claire
The Blugolds head into the matchup 5-0, coming off a 71-57 win over Saint Mary's. Eau Claire is coming off a 2016-17 season where it went 13-13 overall, and suffered a first-round loss in the WIAC tournament. Forward Anna Graaskamp leads the team with 17.2 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. Guard Hallee Hoeppner is averaging 12.2 points per game while playing a team high 33.0 minutes.
Last Year
UW-Eau Claire beat St. Benedict 60-52 last year on Dec. 13 in Eau Claire, Wis. After a four point first quarter the Blazers got hot ending the first half up 26-21. The Blugolds got hot in fourth quarter outscoring CSB 24-14 to pull away with an eight point lead.
Chelsey Guetter led Saint Benedict with 15 points, and she also finished with nine rebounds. Anna Graaskamp scored 19 points for Eau Claire.
Who to Watch
This season, all eyes will be on seniors
Chelsey Guetter,
Niki Fokken, and
Kate Banovetz after stellar seasons in their junior campaigns. Through five games, Guetter and Fokken lead the team with 11.6 points per game. After leading CSB to the championship trophy of the Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament and 2-0 in the Simpson Invitational Guetter was named tournament MVP in back to back tournaments. Firstyear
Haylee Fingalsen is averaging 8.0 points per game while shooting .444 from beyond the arc.
The Storyline
CSB is looking to beat its strong start from last season, when it opened with seven straight wins – the most since 2003-04. CSB plays seven of its first 10 games at home, where the team was almost unbeatable last season, posting an impressive 11-2 record. CSB looks to stay undefeated with a win over UW-Eau Claire in its first of two games this week. CSB opens the MIAC season when it hosts Bethel University on Saturday at 3 p.m.
