ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team improved to 4-0 and stayed perfect on its home court in Claire Lynch thanks to a 66-59 win over UW-Superior Thursday night.
After leading by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, the Yellowjackets got within four late in the fourth, but CSB hit just enough free throws to help ice the win down the stretch. Saint Benedict remains undefeated as it heads into MIAC play next week.
Saint Benedict led 55-46 heading into the final 10 minutes of play, but Superior (2-4) scored early to cut that lead to five.
McKenzie Holgate hit a pair of free throws, and
Megan Thompson scored to make it a nine-point game, 57-48, with 6:56 to play. A three from UWS made it a five-point game again, but
Alex Johnson scored, and later the Yellowjackets scored twice to make it a four-point game, 63-59, with 40 seconds left.
But Thompson,
Sidney Schiffler and Johnson all hit one free throw down the stretch and Superior missed several late three-point attempts to help seal the win.
CSB jumped to a 7-2 lead early thanks to free throws from Schiffler and Thompson and a three from Schiffler. The Yellowjackets threatened to take the lead several times throughout the game – and got within three to end the first quarter at 13-10 – but Saint Benedict never let UWS take the lead the entire game.
Superior tied the game at 15-15 early in the second, but Thompson and Schiffler scored, and later Schiffler hit a three and
Shae Olsen hit back-to-back threes to help extend the team's lead.
Tori Szathmary hit two free throws and a layup to help the team to a 34-25 halftime lead. The Yellowjackets outscored CSB 21-19 in the third, but the Bennies held on to the lead, even throughout the tight fourth quarter.
Schiffler finished with 14 points to lead CSB, which shot nearly 43 percent from the field. Thompson added 12 points and Holgate added 11. Johnson finished with 11 rebounds and five blocked shots and Thompson had five assists. CSB had 37 rebounds to the Yellowjackets' 30, and had 16 turnovers. The team was 16-for-20 from the line.
Eva Reinertsen led all scorers with 20 points for Superior and Emily Carpenter added 16. Pashia Scott paced UWS with eight rebounds. The Yellowjackets shot 40 percent from the field, went 3-for-5 from the line and had 15 turnovers.
CSB is back at home and opens MIAC play Tuesday, Nov. 26 when it hosts Saint Mary's at 7 p.m.
