ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team's largest lead of the game was four points Thursday night, but that turned out to be more than enough for the Bennies.
 
Sidney Schiffler banked in a three with 11 seconds, Bethel turned the ball over on its ensuing possession and then missed a last-second 3-pointer as CSB held on for an 81-78 win over the Royals. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Saint Benedict, and a three-game winning streak for Bethel.
 
The win could prove to be key in the MIAC standings down the stretch. With five games left in the regular season, CSB is in sixth with a 7-6 conference record and is 11-9 overall. St. Thomas is first and has already clinched a spot in the league's postseason tournament at 13-0, Augsburg is second at 11-1 and Bethel, Gustavus and Saint Mary's are all tied for third with 8-5 conference marks. Hamline and St. Kate's are just behind CSB with 6-7 conference records.
 
Bethel (14-6 overall) led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, but aside from that it was close throughout. McKenzie Holgate hit a jumper with a second left in the second quarter to tie the game 35-35 at halftime, and another buzzer-beater in the third to put CSB up 59-58 heading into the fourth. Schiffler hit a three to put CSB up four – its biggest lead of the game – 30 seconds into the final quarter, but a Bethel three and three-point play put the Royals back on top.
 
The score was tied four times in the next five minutes, with the two teams going shot-for-shot – including a huge three from Holgate after a big block and defensive rebound from Alex Johnson that put CSB up two, 76-74, with 2:47 left. A Bethel layup tied the game at 78-78 with 49 seconds left, but Schiffler took a pass from Megan Thompson and banked in her three with 11 seconds left, and CSB held on from there.
 
The Royals jumped to a five-point lead early, and then pushed that lead to six, but CSB had an answer for everything. Johnson and Holgate had back-to-back baskets to put CSB up one, 14-15, but the Roylas took an 18-16 lead into the second quarter. Maddie Schmitz hit a three early in the second, but the Royals got two quick steals and buckets and pushed their lead to 10, 30-20, with four minutes left in the half. From there, however, Schmitz hit another three, Thompson hit a three and two free throws and Johnson and Breanna Gates scored to help set up Holgate for the first of her two buzzer-beaters, and to set up the tight second half.
 
Holgate finished with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Johnson also had 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead CSB, which shot 50.8 percent from the field. Thompson added 14 points, Gates had 11 and Schmitz and Schiffler both finished with 10. CSB went 7-for-11 from the line and had 38 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
 
Makenna Pearson led Bethel with 23 points and Hannah Johnson added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Royals, who shot 46.4 percent from the field. Bethel went 8-for-13 from the line and had 36 rebounds and 16 turnovers.
 
CSB is back at home Saturday, Feb. 2, when it hosts Macalester at 1 p.m. That is one of just two home games left in the regular season for CSB.