By: Leah Rado, Athletic Media Relations Director
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball experienced some growing pains in 2018-19.
After a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017-18, the team graduated three key players, and spent the first few weeks of last season trying to fill those shoes. By Christmas, however, head coach Mike Durbin had righted the ship, and the team went on to earn its third straight MIAC Tournament berth – and even hosted a first-round game.
After graduating just one senior in 2019, Durbin and his team look to have a more consistent start to the season as the Bennies try for a fourth straight conference tournament berth. Saint Benedict starts the 2019-20 season Monday, Nov. 11, when it heads to River Falls, Wis., for a nonconference matchup against UW-River Falls.
Following Monday's game, seven of CSB's next eight games are at home before Christmas break, including the team's annual Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 15-16. The team takes on Minnesota-Morris Friday, Nov. 15, and Buena Vista Saturday, Nov. 16. St. Olaf is also at the tournament.
Last season, CSB started the year 3-6 overall, including 1-3 in MIAC play, but after the holidays the team came back and won 10 of its last 14 games to secure yet another winning season for Durbin. The post-Christmas success helped CSB to a fourth-place MIAC finish, and the team hosted a conference tournament game for the second straight year. The MIAC Tournament appearance marked the team's 16th since the league started the postseason tournament in 2000.
Alex Johnson is back for her senior season after earning All-MIAC First Team honors in 2019, and junior Megan Thompson also returns after a first-team nod last season and honorable mention accolades as a first year. Sidney Schiffler and Maddie Schmitz earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention, and the foursome returns as the team's leading scorers from a year ago. Also back is McKenzie Holgate – who was fifth on the team in scoring as a first year, and earned a spot on the All-MIAC First Year Team.
Thompson led the team with 13.1 points per game as a sophomore, and Schmitz added 12 .2 points and 6.2 rebounds. Johnson led the team with 8.7 rebounds per game, and also added 9.6 points per game. Schiffler shot an impressive .452 from long range as a junior, and all five of the team's top scorers averaged at least 7.5 points per game.
There are 11 first years on the team's roster in 2019-20. They are joined by five sophomores, four juniors and two seniors. After hosting the tip-off tournament, CSB opens MIAC play on Tuesday, Nov. 26, against Saint Mary's.
