ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team just couldn't find its rhythm offensively Sunday afternoon.
 
After shooting a respectable 40 percent in the first quarter and hanging with Gustavus, the Bennies made just five field goals in the second and third quarters combined before coming out and scoring 33 points in the fourth quarter. The offensive outburst was enough to make a comeback but it was too little, too late in the 76-66 loss in St. Peter.
 
Gustavus (2-0, 2-0) took an early lead Sunday afternoon, but Kate Seyer hit a three to tie the game at 7-7. The Gusties pushed their lead back to eight twice, but first Carla Meyer hit a three and Maddie Schmitz hit a three in the final 10 seconds of the quarter to get CSB within five, 25-20.
 
From there, however, the Bennies went cold. Seyer hit a three at the 7:31 mark to make it a four-point game, 27-23, but that was the only field goal CSB made all quarter, and one of just four points the team scored. Gustavus outscored CSB 20-4 in the second to take a 45-24 lead into halftime.
 
The third quarter was just as tough for the Bennies, who were outscored 15-9 in the quarter and were down by as many as 28, 60-32, late in the quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, Saint Benedict finally found its offense. After scoring 33 points in the first three quarters combined, the Bennies matched that in the third, outscoring the Gusties 33-16. CSB started the quarter on a 13-3 run to get within 17, 63-46, but Gustavus pushed its lead back to 21 with 2:15 remaining.
 
In the final 2:15 of the game, however, CSB outscored Gustavus 12-1 – including a basket from Schmitz at the buzzer – to make it a 10-point game.
 
Seyer led CSB with a new career-high of 18 points, including a trio of three-point shots. Schmitz added 14 points and a team-high 16 rebounds, and Madison Doran chipped in with 13 points. The Bennies – who went 9-for-12 from the field in the final quarter – finished the game shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 18-for-29 from the line.
 
Caitlin Rorman paced Gustavus with 19 points and Paige Richert had 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Gusties shot 40 percent from the field, went 7-for-18 from the line and outrebounded the Bennies 50-32. Gustavus had 17 turnovers to CSB's 19.
 
CSB is scheduled to be back at home Wednesday, Feb. 24, when it hosts St. Thomas before hitting the road again Saturday, Feb. 27, for a game at Bethel. All schedules are subject to change; stay tuned to www.gobennies.com for updates.