ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Early in the third quarter, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team used a layup from Maddie Schmitz to take a 15-point lead on Gustavus, and it appeared that the team was in good shape to start the MIAC season with a comfortable win.
 
The Gusties had other ideas, however, and while they were never able to get in front, they made things interesting all the way to the end. CSB's 15-point lead was whittled down to eight, then five, then three and one point 62-61 – with 14 seconds left, but Megan Thompson hit a pair of free throws and Gustavus missed a last-second 3-pointer to help CSB hold on for the 64-61 win Saturday in Claire Lynch.
 
The win snapped a two-game losing streak and put Saint Benedict in the W column to start conference play. CSB is now 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference with a trio of MIAC games remaining before the holiday break. Gustavus is 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the league.
 
After going up 10 at halftime thanks to a layup from Schmitz, CSB was cruising early in the third. Sidney Schiffler hit a three and then scored on a layup to make it a 13-point game, 41-28, and Thompson scored to push the team's lead to 15 for the first time. Schmitz scored at the 6:32 mark to make it a 15-point game again at 45-30 and CSB looked to be in the driver's seat, but the Gusties responded with an 11-2 run to make it a six-point game, 47-41, with just over a minute left in the quarter. Breanna Gates and McKenzie Holgate both scored to help CSB keep its lead at eight, 51-43, heading into the final quarter.
 
A three from Shae Olsen early in the fourth pushed the team's lead back to nine, 54-45, but the Gusties kept hanging around. After Schmitz hit a pair of free throws to keep the lead at 58-51, Gustavus scored a pair of baskets to cut the gap to three, 58-55, and the Gusties kept the lead less than five for the next few minutes. Gustavus scored twice to make it 62-61 with 14 seconds left, but Thompson drained her free throws to help her team hang on for the win.
 
The first quarter of play was close throughout, and neither team led by more than three. Holgate scored late in the quarter to put CSB up 17-14 after one. Schmitz scored and Thompson hit a three early in the second to push the team's lead to eight, and Thompson and Schiffler both scored to make it a 10-point game and help put CSB in the driver's seat heading into halftime.
 
Schmitz finished with 14 points, Thompson added 13 and Holgate finished with 11 to pace CSB, which shot 52 percent from the field – including 58 percent in the first half. Schmitz also had 11 rebounds and four assists and Olsen added seven rebounds. CSB went 4-for-6 from the line and had 33 rebounds and 22 turnovers.
 
Paige Richert led all scorers with 16 points for the Gusties, who shot just under 40 percent from the field, including 32 percent in the first half. She also had 11 rebounds and Kendall Thompson had seven assists. Gustavus went 14-for-16 from the line and had 30 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
 
CSB is on the road Wednesday, Dec. 5, when it travels to St. Paul to take on St. Kate's. The team is back at home Saturday, Dec. 8, when it hosts Hamline at 1 p.m.