ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Sidney Schiffler wasn't able to add a second game-winning shot to her 2018-19 resume Saturday afternoon against Macalester, but she certainly played a key role in sealing the win.
 
After a back-and-forth game, and a tight fourth quarter, Schiffler hit a pair of free throws and then drained a three – her fourth of the game – to help the College of Saint Benedict basketball team pull away for a 67-56 win over Macalester in Claire Lynch Hall.
 
The win is the second straight for CSB, and comes on the heels of a huge MIAC win over Bethel Wednesday. Saint Benedict is now 12-9 overall and 8-6 and tied for fifth in the MIAC with Saint Mary's.
 
CSB led the Scots (4-17, 2-12) by four – 49-45 – heading into the fourth quarter thanks to a layup from Schiffler. The two teams combined for just five points in the first 5:30 of the fourth quarter – a pair of free throws from Megan Thompson and a three from the Scots to make it a three-point game, 51-48. Maddie Schmitz hit a pair of free throws, and then a three to push the team's lead back to six after Macalester got within three. The Scots got within four, but Schmitz scored to make it 58-52 with 2:25 left, and Schiffler drained her free throws and then a three to put the lead at nine, 63-54, with 1:17 to play.
 
After a close start to the game, Alex Johnson scored and Breanna Gates hit a three to put CSB up six, 15-9. Macalester cut that lead to one, but Shae Olsen added a three in the final 26 seconds of the first to put CSB up four, 18-14, heading into the second. CSB was never able to push its lead to more than six in the second quarter, and the Scots took a one-point lead with 2:04 remaining in the half. After trading threes, Schmitz scored to put CSB up one, 30-29, at halftime.
 
Johnson scored and Schmitz hit a three to start the third quarter, and buckets from Thompson and Johnson gave CSB its first 10-point lead, 39-29, with 5:40 left in the quarter. CSB still led by nine, 43-34, with 4:02 left in the third, but the Scots outscored CSB 11-4 in the next three and a half minutes and had the lead down to two before Schiffler hit her last-second layup to end the quarter and set up the tight finish.
 
Schiffler and Johnson both finished with 16 points to lead CSB, which ended the game shooting 36.9 percent from the field. Thompson (13) and Schmitz (12) both hit double-digit points, and Johnson also finished with 10 rebounds. Gates had a team-high seven assists. CSB went 10-for-14 from the line and had 43 rebounds and nine turnovers.
 
Katherine Podoll paced the Scots with 12 points and Kayla Togneri had 11 rebounds. Macalester shot 34.8 percent from the field and had 44 rebounds and 13 turnovers.
 
CSB is on the road now for three of its final four games of the regular season. The team travels to Moorhead Wednesday for a 5:45 p.m. game at Concordia, then takes on St. Olaf at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in Northfield.