ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Gustavus went on three big runs Wednesday night in Claire Lynch. The College of Saint Benedict basketball team had answers for two of those runs, but couldn't quite find the magic to make a third run at the Gusties.
After taking a lead into halftime, the Bennies fell 71-60 Wednesday in Claire Lynch to a tough Gustavus squad. Saint Benedict is now 8-4 overall and 5-4 in the MIAC while Gustavus improves to 9-2 overall and 9-1 in the conference.
CSB took a 10-point lead, 33-23, with three minutes left in the half thanks to a free throw from
Carla Meyer. From there, the Gusties went on an 18-0 run that lasted until the six-minute mark of the third quarter to go up 41-33. The Bennies fought back, and a banked three at the buzzer from
Gabby Martin made it a five-point game, 50-45, heading into the fourth.
Meyer scored to start the fourth to make it a three-point game, but Gustavus rattled off a 7-0 run to go up 57-47 with 8:30 remaining.
Olivia Boily and Meyer scored and
Sophia Jonas nailed a three to make it a three-point game once again, 57-54, with 6:42 left, but from there the Gusties went on an 11-0 run to go up 68-54 with 3:09 left to play.
Meyer hit a three and Jonas hit another three to make it an eight-point game with 1:04 left, but Gustavus made a handful of free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Bennies maintained a slim lead throughout much of the first quarter, and led by four late thanks to a three from
Abigail Kuboushek, but the Guties hit two free throws to make it a 17-15 game after one. Threes from Kuboushek and
Nancy Soro made it an eight-point game, and a three from Meyer a short time later but CSB up 28-19 with 5:22 left in the half. Boily scored to push CSB's lead to 11 with four minutes left, but from there the Bennies scored a single point as Gustavus got within five at halftime before taking a lead early in the third quarter.
Meyer finished with 17 points to pace the Bennies, who shot 38 percent from the field. Soro added nine points and six rebounds and Martin, Jonas and Kuboushek all added eight points. Meyer also had four assists. CSB went 7-for-13 from the line and had 37 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
Anna Sanders led all scorers with 24 points for Gustavus, which shot 49 percent from the field. Grace Benz added 12 points and nine rebounds. The Gusties went 13-for-25 from the line and had 37 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
CSB is scheduled to be back at home Saturday, Jan. 15, when it hosts league-leading Augsburg at 1 p.m. in Claire Lynch. Stay tuned to gobennies.com for schedule updates.
