ST. JOSEPH, Minn. –The College of Saint Benedict basketball team is in the midst of a busy stretch thanks to a makeup game against Saint Mary's on Monday (1/20). After playing on the road against the Cardinals Wednesday, the Bennies are home Saturday against Bethel in the first of three games in the next five days for the team. Two of those three games are in Claire Lynch, so CSB looks to take advantage of playing at home.
 
Saturday's game starts at 3 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall.
 
ABOUT THE ROYALS
Bethel is 14-0 and ranked 13th in Division III heading into Saturday's game. The Royals beat St. Olaf by nearly 50 points Wednesday after holding the Oles to less than 29 percent shooting from the field. Taite Anderson leads the MIAC in scoring and field-goal percentage, and Haylee Barker leads the league in assists and steals per game, and the duo is second and third, respectively, in Division III. Bethel is one of just five undefeated teams remaining in Division III women's basketball this season.
 
LAST MEETING
Saint Benedict is 3-0 against the Royals in the last three seasons, including a thrilling 81-78 win last season in Claire Lynch. Bethel tied the game with 49 seconds left, but Sidney Schiffler hit a three with 15 seconds remaining and CSB held on for the win. Alex Johnson had 16 points and 13 rebounds and McKenzie Holgate finished with 16 points for CSB, which had six players in double digits.
 
THE STORYLINE
CSB snapped its six-game losing streak with a road win at Saint Mary's Wednesday, and the Bennies hope that momentum carries over into a matchup with a top-15 team Saturday. CSB needs to stay in the W column if it wants to climb the ladder of the MIAC standings as the second half of the season gets under way.
 
WHO TO WATCH
Junior Maddie Schmitz had her best game of the season Wednesday against the Cardinals. She had a season-high 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds as the team picked up a big road win. Megan Thompson added 16 points and Hannah Johnson finished with four assists and four steals.