ST.JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team looks to play spoiler as it heads to St. Thomas to close out the regular season on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in St. Paul.  
 
About St. Thomas
The No. 8/10 Tommies enter the game as the only unbeaten team in MIAC action, sitting first in the standings at 17-0, followed closely by CSB in second. UST has remained undefeated in all play since the holiday break, last losing Dec. 16 in a tight 77-72 bout with Luther.
Junior Hannah Spaulding continues to lead the Tommies and the league in scoring, averaging 19.9 points per game. She has the best shooting percentage from the field, 71.3 percent, and her classmate Lucia Renikoff leads the league from beyond the arch, converting at 44.9 percent.
 
Flashback to January
CSB and St. Thomas met up on the hardwoods of Claire Lynch Hall earlier this season, both entering the game with 9-0 conference records. The Tommies played the spoiler in that game, defeating CSB 77-52. CSB stayed close the whole game, trailing by four points after the first quarter. Niki Fokken posted 15 points in the game, and Chelsey Guetter grabbed five total rebounds in the loss.
 
Who to Watch
Niki Fokken continues to lead CSB in scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game. She has posted 13-plus points in her last three games, including 22 points on Senior Night on Feb. 10 against Augsburg. Chelsey Guetter paces CSB with 150 rebounds on the season, and has dished out a team-leading 47 assists. Sidney Schiffler continues to excel from beyond the arch, with the second-best conversion rate in the MIAC at 44.3 percent.
 
The Storyline
CSB is looking to deal St. Thomas its first loss in the final game of the conference schedule, and move into even more favorable playoff positioning. St. Thomas, Saint Benedict, Gustavus, Bethel, and Saint Mary's have all clinched a spot as MIAC playoff qualifiers that begin Feb. 20. Saint Benedict and St. Thomas both have clinched home court advantage as well for the post season.
 
CSB has already sealed at least a second seed for the MIAC Tournament, and earned a bye in the first round of the tournament. CSB hosts a semifinal game Thursday, Feb. 22, in Claire Lynch. This marks the team's best regular-season MIAC finish since 2009-10.