ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team enters the MIAC semifinals Friday, Feb. 24, when it travels to top-seeded University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Game time is set for 7 p.m. as CSB looks to earn a spot in the MIAC Championship with a victory.
 
About St. Thomas
St. Thomas is 25-0 overall and 18-0 in the MIAC and finished as the MIAC regular-season champions. The Tommies, who are ranked second in Division III, wrapped up the regular season a 70-61 win at Concordia on Saturday afternoon. Kaitlin Langer leads the MIAC with 19.4 points per game is the MIAC's fourth-leading blocker with 30 this season. The Tommies also have two of the league's top three-point shooters: Lauren Fischer (42.1) and Gabby Zehrer (41.1), and are both a threat from deep. St. Thomas won the MIAC playoffs last year, and went on to lose in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Last Matchup
CSB and St. Thomas faced off twice already this season, and the Tommies won both matchups.
The Blazers lost the matchup 79-35 on Dec. 10 in St. Paul. CSB struggled shooting while the Tommies seemingly could not miss. The Blazers were out rebounded 40-24, and allowed 26 points off turnovers. The Blazers never led in the game and could not recover from the Tommies' early lead. On Jan. 25, CSB lost 65-40 in St. Joseph. Chelsey Guetter recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. The Blazers only hit one three-pointer in the game and the Tommies made eight.
 
About CSB
Chelsey Guetter leads the team with 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and Fokken averages 9.3 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Fokken is second in the MIAC with 50 blocks this season. Saint Benedict heads into Friday's game after a 53-50 win against St. Catherine on Wednesday night. Fokken scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. The Blazers out rebounded the Wildcats 45-to-24. CSB knocked St. Kate's out of the playoffs with the win.
 
The Storyline
CSB has just two losses at home this season, but has struggled on the road with a record of 5-8. CSB, which got off to a hot start to the 2016-17 season, looks to use momentum as it enters the semifinal game on a three-game win streak. St. Thomas averages 70.4 points per game, and CSB will need to slow them down, which they struggled with twice already this season. CSB is 15-1 when holding opponents to 55 points or less. The Blazers, fourth in playoff standings, are in the playoffs for the second straight year. If CSB wins Friday, they will face Gustavus or Bethel in the MIAC Championship on Saturday, Feb. 26.