ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After a one-point loss to Carleton Monday night, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team knew it needed to come out strong Wednesday against Gustavus – one of three unbeaten teams remaining in the MIAC.
 
Unfortunately for the Bennies, they didn't get off to the strong start they wanted, as they scored just six first-quarter points. Neither did Gustavus, however, which scored just eight points. The Gusties eventually warmed up, and Saint Benedict got cold again in the fourth quarter as it fell 67-57 to Gustavus in its final home game of 2019.
 
Heading into the holiday break, Saint Benedict is 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIAC. Augsburg, Bethel and the Gusties are all undefeated in conference play and hold the top three spots, while CSB is now tied for fifth with Concordia.
 
Neither team could get anything going in the first quarter as they combined for seven made field goals and 14 total points. The Gusties (7-1, 4-0) led 8-4 at the 6:07 mark, and that's where the score would stay until Hannah Johnson scored on a layup with 36 seconds left to get CSB within two, 8-6. The Bennies shot 18 percent from the field in the opening quarter and Gustavus shot 33 percent.
 
Both teams warmed up in the second and shot at least 50 percent from the field. McKenzie Holgate scored early to tie the game, and Megan Thompson gave CSB its first lead of the game at 13-12. The Gusties regained the lead at 18-13, but Sidney Schiffler hit back-to-back threes, then Paris Rasheed-Moore added a three and Thompson scored to put CSB up four, 24-20 with 2:33 left in the half. Gustavus cut the lead to two, but Tori Szathmary hit a three to end the scoring for the quarter and put CSB up 25-22.
 
Gustavus started the third quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 33-25 lead, and two more baskets later put the Gusties up 10 for the first time, 37-27. Thompson hit two free throws and Rasheed-Moore converted a three-point play and then scored to get CSB within three, 37-34, with 3:34 left in the third. Alex Johnson scored and Schiffler hit two free throws, then Kendyl Thompson drained a three to give CSB a one-point lead, 41-40, with 2:39 left. Gustavus outscored CSB 6-1 to wrap up the quarter, however, and take a 47-42 lead into the fourth.
 
Thompson hit a three early in the fourth to cut the Gusties' lead to five, 50-45, and Maddie Schmitz hit two free throws to make it a five-point game again at 52-47, but a three-point play and a 3-pointer put the Gusties up 11, 58-47, with 5:52 left. Thompson and Rasheed-Moore both hit a pair of free throws to get CSB within seven, and Schiffler hit another three to make it an eight-point game with 1:23 left, but it wasn't enough as the Gusties held on for the win. CSB shot just 23 percent and made three field goals in the fourth quarter.
 
Thompson finished with 14 points for CSB, which finished the game shooting 32.7 percent from the field. Schiffler added 13 points and Rasheed-Moore had 11 for CSB, which hit seven 3-pointers and went 16-for-23 from the line. Johnson had seven rebounds. CSB had 20 turnovers and the Gusties had 21.
 
Marisa Gustafson led all scorers with 19 points for Gustavus, which shot 47.3 percent from the field, hit four 3-pointers and went 11-for-13 from the line. Paige Richert had nine rebounds as the Gusties won the battle on the boards 36-25.
 
CSB is off now until Saturday, Dec. 28, when it hits the road to take on Bethany Lutheran in its final nonconference game of the season. Saint Benedict is back at home Saturday, Jan. 4, when it hosts Augsburg at 3 p.m.