ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After jumping to a double-digit lead in the first quarter Wednesday against Saint Mary's, it appeared as though the College of Saint Benedict basketball team had the game under control.
 
The final three quarters were a different story.
 
The Cardinals' offense came alive in the second quarter, and kept pushing the Bennies the rest of the game. Saint Benedict used some key baskets, big rebounds and defensive pressure to hold on for a 59-56 win over Saint Mary's to improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC.
 
After a tight start to the fourth quarter, Carla Meyer scored and Nancy Soro later scored on a layup after pulling down an offensive rebound to give the Bennies a 54-47 lead with 3:23 to play. Saint Mary's, however, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a one-point game before Sophia Jonas nailed a three of her own to give CSB a four-point lead, 57-53, with 54 seconds left.
 
Another three from the Cardinals made it a one-point game again with 38 seconds left, but another big offensive rebound from Soro helped Meyer draw a foul and she hit both free throws to put the Bennies up three with six seconds left, and that's where the score stayed.
 
The first quarter was a different story. After a close first few minutes, Lydia Hay and Jonas hit back-to-back threes, Meyer scored in the paint and Gabby Martin hit a three to put CSB up 12, 16-4, with 2:13 left in the quarter. A three from Saint Mary's (2-4, 1-2) stopped the run, but a trio of free throws, including two from Martin, pushed the Bennies' lead back to 12 after one quarter.
 
The Cardinals went on a 10-2 run to start the second and get within four, 21-17, and another quick run made it a three-point game, 26-25, with 2:25 left in the half. Saint Mary's cut the gap to one before Tori Szathmary scored late to give CSB a three-point cushion at halftime, 28-25.
 
Saint Mary's came out hot in the third and went on an 8-0 run to take a 33-28 lead with just over 7:30 left in the quarter. Meyer scored on a pair of layups, Kate Seyer hit two free throws and Jonas scored to give the Bennies the lead back, 37-33, and a short time later threes from Meyer and Seyer made it a seven-point game again, 43-36. The Cardinals kept clawing back, and after making it a one-point game, Jonas hit a three to give the Bennies a four-point lead heading into the final quarter.
 
The Cardinals stayed within five point of CSB for the first six minutes of the final quarter, and the Bennies used their late-game heroics to hang on for the win.
 
Meyer, Martin, Seyer and Jonas all scored double-digit points for the Bennies, including Meyer who had 15 points – seven of which came in the third quarter to help keep CSB in the game. Martin added 12 points, Seyer 10 and Jonas had a career-high 11 points. Szathmary led the defense with 12 rebounds and Soro had a career-high 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards to help keep plays alive late. The Bennies shot just 29 percent from the field, went 10-for-17 from the line and committed just five turnovers. The team had 48 rebounds to SMU's 44.
 
Brooklyn Paulson led all scorers with 16 points for Saint Mary's and Macey Petron led the team with eight rebounds. The Cardinals shot 31 percent from the field, went 6-for-9 from the line and had 10 turnovers.
 
The Bennies are back at home Saturday, Dec. 4, when they host Concordia at 3 p.m. in Claire Lynch. The JV team plays at noon.