ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After solid shooting and plenty of scoring Wednesday in a big win over Macalester, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team was looking for a second straight game with plenty of offensive firepower Saturday when 19^th-ranked St. Thomas came to town.
 
The Tommies had other ideas, however, and CSB shot just over 25 percent from the field in a 70-40 loss in Claire Lynch Hall. The loss wraps up the home season for Saint Benedict, which is 12-11 overall and 7-11 and tied for eighth in the MIAC with a pair of games remaining in the regular season.
 
The first quarter was a close one to start as a three from Maddie Schmitz tied the game at 7-7, and Sidney Schiffler scored to put CSB up 9-7 midway through the quarter. The Tommies (18-5, 14-4) ended the quarter on a 9-2 run, however, to go up 16-11 after the first. Megan Thompson scored to start the second and get CSB within three, but the Tommies responded with a 16-1 run that ended with a 32-14 UST lead with 3:04 remaining in the half. Schiffler added a late three to get within 16, 36-20, at halftime.
 
St. Thomas pushed their lead into the 20s early in the third quarter, and maintained that lead throughout the remainder of the game.
 
Schmitz finished with 10 points and six rebounds to lead CSB, which shot 25.5 percent from the field and went 11-for-18 from the line. Schiffler added nine points and Alex Johnson had three blocked shots. The Bennies had 26 rebounds and 16 turnovers.
 
Brynne Rolland led all scorers with 23 points for the Tommies, who shot nearly 49 percent from the field. Shayla Wallin led the team with nine rebounds. UST went 18-for-19 from the line and had 40 rebounds and 19 turnovers.
 
CSB wraps up the 2019-20 regular season with a pair of road games next week. The Bennies are at St. Kate's Wednesday and at Bethel Saturday afternoon.