WINONA, Minn. – After losing a tough game to Saint Mary's earlier this season, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team headed to Winona Wednesday night looking to pick up the season split. CSB came within a few points of picking up the road win, but fell just short as the Cardinals came away with a 66-60 win.
 
The Cardinals (11-7, 7-4) led by six with just over three minutes to play, but Sidney Schiffler hit a pair of free throws and McKenzie Holgate scored to get CSB within two, 60-58, with 2:08 left. Saint Mary's scored to push its lead to four, but Megan Thompson sank two free throws to make it 62-60 with 1:01 to play. From there, however, Saint Mary's hit four straight free throws and CSB had a turnover and a missed shot to give the Cardinals the win.
 
The final few minutes weren't the only time the game was close. Saint Mary's went up 10-4 early in the first quarter on CSB (10-8, 6-5), but Saint Benedict responded with a 12-3 run to end the quarter with a 16-13 lead. Five different players scored during the run. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead to start the second, but Thompson hit a three and Alex Johnson scored to put CSB up four, 24-20, with 6:19 left. The Cardinals took the lead back three minutes later, and maintained a slim 32-30 lead at halftime.
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the third quarter, and Saint Mary's lead was never more than four points until Brandi Blattner scored and SMU hit two free throws with three minutes left in the quarter to put the Cardinals up seven, 45-38. Holgate and Thompson both scored to cut the lead to three, but SMU scored on a layup and two more free throws to make it a seven-point game, 49-42, heading into the final quarter.
 
Alex Johnson hit a pair of free throws early in the fourth and Shae Olsen hit a three to cut SMU's lead to two early in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals twice pushed their lead back to seven points before CSB went on its late-game run.
 
Thompson finished with 21 points to lead CSB, which shot 36.8 percent from the field. Johnson added 11 points and seven rebounds. Saint Benedict went 8-for-14 from the line and had 39 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
 
Blattner led all players with 22 points and she also had 13 rebounds for Saint Mary's, and Abby Winter added 15 points and 16 rebounds. The Cardinals shot 39.7 percent from the field, went 15-for-17 from the line and had 45 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
 
CSB is on the road once more before returning home again. The team plays Hamline University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in St. Paul.