ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team plays its final home game and last MIAC contest of the calendar year Wednesday, Dec. 12, when it hosts Saint Mary's. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall.
 
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Saint Mary's had a two-game winning streak snapped Saturday by Gustavus College. The Cardinals, who won three straight after losing their first game of the year, are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC. Rachel Kedl is sixth in the MIAC with 7.7 rebounds per game, and Brooklyn Paulson leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game.

LAST MEETING
CSB held on for a 60-55 win over the Cardinals in the only meeting of the two teams last season. Megan Thompson hit a three with just under three minutes left to give the team a slim lead, and CSB held onto that lead, and the win. Thompson finished with 17 points and Maddie Schmitz had five rebounds. Both teams came alive in the second half, as CSB led 22-20 at halftime.

THE STORYLINE
CSB started the MIAC season with a close win against Gustavus, but is 0-2 since then, with a pair of tough losses along the way. Saint Benedict looks to get back on track with a home win tonight, and head into the holiday break with some momentum before playing a pair of nonconference games at the end of the month. Saint Benedict is on the road for a pair of games at a tournament in Nashville over the holiday break, but isn't at home again until Jan. 2 when it hosts Augsburg to kick off 2019.

WHO TO WATCH
Maddie Schmitz has come up big for CSB in each of the team's last two games. She had 16 points in a loss to St. Kate's and 18 more in a home loss to Hamline. Megan Thompson has also been consistent, with 13 against SCU and 11 more against the Pipers. She has scored double digits in all eight of the team's games this season. Breanna Gates led the team with seven rebounds and four steals against Hamline.