ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team was going for the season sweep of Augsburg Saturday afternoon in Claire Lynch Hall, but the Auggies had other ideas.
 
Just four days after hanging on for a six-point win in Minneapolis, the Bennies got in an early hole they could never claw out of in a 59-51 loss to Augsburg.
 
After going down by as many as 12 points with just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Saint Benedict (4-4) made a run to get back in the game. A layup from Maddie Schmitz made it a 10-point game, 37-27, and sparked a 9-0 run that spanned the rest of the quarter. Schmitz added a three-point play in the run and Carla Meyer scored late to make it a three-point game, 37-34, heading into the fourth.
 
The Auggies (1-5) hit a three to start the final quarter, and after a layup from Nancy Soro made it a five-point game, 42-37, with 7:59 remaining, Augsburg was able to maintain a comfortable lead. A three from Meyer made it a seven-point game with 3:26 left, and another three from Meyer made it a seven-point game in the final 30 seconds of play, but it was too little, too late.
 
The Bennies snagged an early lead thanks in part to a three-point play from Schmitz, but a quick run from the Auggies put the visitor up ahead 18-11 after one quarter. The Auggies pushed their lead to 11 before Tori Szathmary hit a pair of free throws with 1:18 left to spark a 7-0 run to end the quarter and make it a four-point game, 26-22, at halftime. First year Makiya Leutmer hit a three with 46 seconds left in the half as part of the run.
 
Several free throws from Schmitz made it a five-point game and then a seven-point game early in the third before Augsburg was able to push its lead to double digits and set up the final 15 minutes of play.
 
Schmitz scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to pace CSB, which committed 24 turnovers. Meyer added 10 points and Szathmary had six rebounds. The Bennies shot 37 percent from the field, including just 3-of-16 from long range, and went 10-for-12 from the line. They held a 42-26 advantage on the boards.
 
Kalena Myers was one of three players in double digits with 18 points for Augsburg, and Jen Masello had seven rebounds. The Auggies shot 41.5 percent from the field, went 9-for-15 from the line and had 12 turnovers.
 
CSB is scheduled to be back at home and in action once more this season. The Bennies added a game against Concordia at 6 p.m. Friday, March 12, in Claire Lynch.