NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm in the first half of Monday's MIAC game at St. Olaf.
 
In the third quarter, the Bennies made just four field goals – but they made them count.
 
Sophia Jonas hit a trio of 3-pointers in the third and the Bennie defense held the Oles to just four points to pull away for a 62-54 win in Northfield. Saint Benedict is now 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC heading into a pair of home conference games this week.
 
Jonas came alive in the third quarter Monday night. After scoring just four points in the first half, she came out and hit back-to-back threes to start the second half and put CSB up five, 27-22. Those two threes were part of a 14-0 run for the Bennies to start the quarter and turn a one-point defict into an 11-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
After scoring nine points in the third quarter, Jonas added 10 more in the fourth, including a three to push the Bennies' lead back to nine, 45-36, with six minutes left to play. The Oles (3-8, 2-6) got within five, but Gabby Martin scored and Jonas hit her fifth three of the night to make it a 10-point game with 3:39 to play. Two more baskets from Martin made it a 12-point game, and Jonas hit four straight free throws to keep CSB's lead at 10, 60-50, with just over a minute to play.
 
Saint Benedict shot just 23 percent in both the first and second quarters, but stayed within three after one quarter, 13-10, and got within 22-21 at halftime. Tori Szathmary had 11 points at halftime to help keep her team in the game and set Jonas up for her big second half.
 
Jonas, a first year, finished with a career-best 23 points to pace the Bennies, who finished the game shooting 32 percent from the field. Szathmary added 15 points and 12 rebounds and Martin finished with 11 points and five steals. CSB had 44 rebounds, went 13-for-17 from the line and committed 16 turnovers.
 
K'Lynn Lewis paced the Oles with 13 points and Sophie Olmen had 10 rebounds. St. Olaf shot 35 percent from the field and went 2-for-4 from the line. St. Olaf had 43 rebounds and committed 21 turnovers.
 
CSB is scheduled to play twice more this week, both times at home. The Bennies host Gustavus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, and Augsburg at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.