MORRIS, Minn. – In the first game of her sophomore season, Megan Thompson tied her career-high with 18 points to lift the College of Saint Benedict basketball team to a 52-45 win over Minnesota Morris.
 
Eleven of Thompson's 18 points came in the fourth quarter to help Saint Benedict hold on for the season-opening win in Morris. CSB led 15-8 after one quarter, but that lead was down to four – 26-22 – at halftime, and the Cougars were within one heading into the final quarter.
 
With her team up 33-32, Thompson scored back-to-back baskets to push the lead to five, 37-32, then hit a 3-pointer to help push the lead back to six. A three-point play from Alex Johnson made it 45-36, and a three from Sidney Schiffler pushed CSB's lead to 10, 52-42, with just over a minute left to play.
 
Morris jumped to an early lead to start the game, but Schiffler scored six straight points for Saint Benedict and first year McKenzie Holgate scored the next seven for the team to make it 13-8 in CSB's favor. A layup from Thompson made it a seven-point game after one quarter.
 
A jumper and a three from Thompson pushed CSB's lead to 13 at 21-8, but the Cougars outscored CSB 24-18 in the second and third quarters to keep things interesting.
 
Holgate also finished in double digits with 15 points to go along with Thompson's 18. Schiffler added nine points and Johnson led the team with six steals and three blocked shots. As a team, CSB shot 32 percent from the field to 30 percent for Morris, while the Cougars held a slight edge on the boards – 39-38. CSB went 10-for-19 from the line.
 
Abby Van Kempen led Morris with 12 points and Kendra Raths had eight rebounds.
 
CSB plays at home for the first time Friday, Nov. 16, when it hosts Nebraska Wesleyan at 8 p.m. as part of the Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament. CSB also hosts Simpson at 3 p.m. Saturday.