ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – In its first home MIAC playoff game since 2013, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team made sure its fans got a good show Wednesday night.
 
Fourth-seeded CSB beat fifth-seeded St. Kate's 53-50 in Claire Lynch Hall in a victory that came down to the final shot in the final seconds of the game.
 
This also marks the first MIAC playoff win since 2013 for Saint Benedict, which moves on to play top-seeded St. Thomas Friday in the semifinals. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. in St. Paul.
 
After a tight start to the fourth quarter, CSB (16-10) appeared to gain some breathing room when Niki Fokken scored a pair of baskets and Chelsey Guetter scored on a layup to put CSB up five, 49-44, with 1:57 left. Annie Dittberner hit a single free throw with 33 seconds left to make it a six-point game, and another with 27 seconds left to put CSB up seven, 51-44.
 
After a Wildcat timeout, however, LaShay Holt hit a three to make it a three-point game with 16 seconds left. Dittberner was fouled on the inbounds pass and made one of her two free throws to put CSB up five with 16 seconds left, but the Wildcats did it again. After a team timeout, Kanani Asuncion hit a three to make it a two-point game, 52-50, with seven seconds left.
 
Dittberner was fouled again on the inbounds, and again hit one of two free throws to push CSB's lead to three with five seconds left to play. Holt pulled down the rebound and got the ball down the court, and Alexis Garcia got an open look at a 3-pointer, but the ball clanged off the rim as time expired to give Saint Benedict the win.
 
CSB – which heads to UST on a three-game winning streak – had a big first quarter, and led 20-13 heading into the second quarter. The Wildcats (15-11) held Saint Benedict to eight second-quarter points, but CSB led 28-23 at halftime.
 
The Wildcats got within one, 38-37, after three quarters, and then pushed CSB right up until the end of the game.
 
Fokken finished with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead CSB, which shot 43.5 percent from the field. Dittberner added 14 points and Guetter finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. Saint Benedict went 11-for-18 from the line, outrebounded the Wildcats 45-24 and had 20 turnovers.
 
Mari Lee and Kennedy Jennings each had nine points to lead St. Kate's, which shot 36 percent from the field. The Wildcats hit nine 3-pointers, went 5-for-9 from the line and had 15 turnovers.
 
CSB heads to St. Thomas looking to upset the No. 2 team in Division III. The Tommies are undefeated at 25-0 this season and won the league's regular-season title.