ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – For the third straight season, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team gets to start the MIAC Tournament on its home court. Last year, Gustavus handed CSB a home loss in the MIAC semifinals; this year, Saint Benedict looks to kick the Gusties out of the tournament in the first round.
 
Tuesday's first-round game between fourth-seeded CSB and No. 5 Gustavus starts at 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for students. The first 150 CSB/SJU students get into the game free with school ID. MIAC passes will be the only passes honored.
 
In the other first-round game, No. 6 Saint Mary's takes on No. 3 Bethel at 5 p.m. in Arden Hills. Top-seeded St. Thomas and No. 2 Augsburg await Tuesday's winners in Thursday's semifinal round.
 
ABOUT THE GUSTIES
The Gusties picked up a 30-point win over Concordia to end the regular season, and head into the playoffs looking to keep that momentum going. Gustavus is 14-11 overall and is led by Kendall Thompson, who is ninth in the MIAC in soring (14.3). Justine Lee also averages 13.3 points per game, and both Thompson and Paige Richert average 5.5 or more rebounds per game.
 
LAST MEETING
Saint Benedict swept Gustavus during the regular season for the first time since 2010-11, and CSB looks to pick up a third win against the Gusties Tuesday. Alex Johnson had a career-high 15 rebounds in the January game in St. Peter, and Megan Thompson hit a pair of free throws late in the first game in December to seal the win.
 
THE STORYLINE
After a tough start to the MIAC season, it was hard to believe that CSB would even be in the MIAC Tournament, but the team went 10-4 in league play after Christmas to earn the No. 4 seed in the league's postseason tournament. Now, CSB hopes to keep its season alive with a first-round win against the Gusties.
 
WHO TO WATCH
Sidney Schiffler had a career-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting on Saturday to help CSB come back to defeat Carleton for a second time this season. Maddie Schmitz added 20 points and Alex Johnson finished with seven rebounds. Johnson is currently sixth in the MIAC at 8.4 rebounds per game and 10th with a .482 field-goal percentage. Megan Thompson leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game.