ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time since the 2008-09 season, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team is headed into Christmas break at the top of the MIAC.
Saint Benedict wrapped up the 2017 portion of its MIAC schedule Wednesday night with a 73-58 win at Hamline University. The win pushes CSB's record to 9-1 overall – which marks the most overall wins in the league – and 4-0 in the conference. St. Thomas (3-0) is the only other undefeated team remaining in the league.
The last time CSB headed into Christmas at the top of the MIAC it finished the year 26-4 overall, 20-2 in the MIAC, won the league's regular season and tournament titles and made it to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament.
CSB's latest win got off to a quick start as
Megan Thompson hit a three, got a steal and got the ball to
Chelsey Guetter for a three to put the team up 6-0. A jumper and a layup by
Kate Banovetz pushed CSB's lead to 10 for the first time, 20-10, with 2:23 left in the first, but the Pipers (2-6, 1-3) scored the final four points of the quarter to get within 20-14.
A three by
Breanna Gates early in the second pushed Saint Benedict's lead back to double digits at 25-14. Hamline went on a run to cut the lead to three, 27-24, with 2:39 left in the half, but a three and a layup by Guetter and a 3-pointer by
Maddie Schmitz made it a nine-point game, 35-26, at halftime.
Niki Fokken hit a basket and a pair of free throws in the third to push CSB's lead to 15, 45-30, but the Pipers went on another run to make it a four-point game with just under two minutes left in the quarter. Haylee Finalsen pushed CSB's lead back to double digits with back-to-back threes 40 seconds apart to make it a 10-point game, 55-45, heading into the fourth. Guetter scored three seconds into the fourth quarter to set the tone, and from there CSB was able to hold on for the win.
Guetter and Banovetz both finished with 14 points to lead CSB, which shot 50 percent from the field – including better than 47 percent from long range. CSB went 9-for-19 from beyond the arc. Fokken also had 10 points and Fingalsen finished with nine on 3-for-6 shooting from long range. Banovetz and Guetter both had five rebounds. CSB went 14-for-20 from the lien and had 34 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
Molly Wampler led Hamline with 14 points and Morgen Coleman paced the team with six rebounds. The Pipers shot 40 percent from the field and hit eight 3-pointers. Hamline went 4-for-5 from the line and had 30 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
CSB is off now until Dec. 30 when it travels to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica to wrap up the nonconference season. CSB returns to MIAC play Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Concordia.
