The story of Mike Durbin's 700th win wrote itself.

In the last game with longtime rival St. Thomas, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team beat the Tommies for the first time since 2013 to put Durbin in elite company with win No. 700.

The Bennies used solid shooting from the line in the final minute of the game to beat the Tommies 88-83 Wednesday night in Claire Lynch Hall. The win marked the first against the Tommies since Jan. 12, 2013

Durbin is one of 17 active coaches in the NCAA to reach the 700-win milestone, and one of just three active coaches in Division III with 700 or more wins.

"This is a reflection of some amazing women i have gotten to coach," said Durbin, who started his head coaching career at Wittenberg in the 1985-86 season. "This is an important milestone, but in large part it is an opportunity to show appreciation for the people I've been blessed to coach over 35 years."

After holding onto a two-point lead after three quarters, the Bennies (3-2) pushed their lead to 10, 75-65, thanks to a jumper from Carla Meyer with just under five minutes left to play. The Tommies got within four before Tori Szathmary hit a layup and Meyer hit a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point game, but the Tommies weren't done yet.

Two more free throws from Meyer made it an eight-point game, 85-77, with 55 seconds left, but UST (3-1) hit back-to-back three-point shots to make it a two-point game, 85-83, with 23 seconds left. From there, however, Morgan Ebel hit a pair of free throws and Nancy Soro added one to ice the win and seal Durbin's place in the NCAA women's basketball record books.

i\"It's always special to beat your rival, and it certainly is more enjoyable when it comes with a personal milestone, but it's a reflection of what this team has done and how much we have improved from Saturday to Wednesday," Durbin said.

CSB found itself in an early hole against the Tommies, down 15-7 midway through the first quarter. But Szathmary hit a three to spark a 12-0 CSB run to put the Bennies up 19-15 with 1:35 to play, and CSB held a three-point lead after one quarter.

The Tommies tied the game several times and stayed close throughout the second quarter, but a three from Madison Doran made it a seven-point game, and two late free throws from Ebel put CSB up 45-38 heading into halftime. UST took a 51-50 lead, then tied the game at 56-56, and the Bennies held a slim two-point lead to set up the tight fourth quarter.

Meyer was one of five Bennies to score double digits and finished with 16 points for CSB, which shot better than 47 percent from the field. Doran added 14 points, Kate Seyer 13 and Maddie Schmitz had 12 points and 10 rebounds. CSB went 21-for-27 from the line and had just 10 turnovers.

Kaia Porter led all scorers with 20 points for UST and Katelyn Stanley led the team with 10 rebounds. UST shot 44 percent from the field but went just 9-for-18 from the line. The Tommies committed 13 turnovers.

CSB is back in action and back on the road Saturday, Feb. 27, when it heads to Arden Hills to take on Bethel in a 2 p.m. MIAC matchup.