MORRIS, Minn. – Sophomore Sophia Jonas knocked down five threes and scored 15 points to lead the College of Saint Benedict (1-0) to a 57-52 nonconference win over Minnesota Morris (0-2) on the road on Saturday at Jim Gremmel Court.

With the win, CSB improved its series lead over UMM to 12-3 with a 12^th straight win in the series. The Bennies, which finished 15-11 a year ago, won its 10th road opener in 16 games on Saturday.

Jonas, a sophomore from Hudson, Wis., tied a career-high with five triples (St. Olaf, 1-10-22) in 12 attempts and led the team with 15 points while adding four rebounds, two assists and two steals. CSB also had two players contribute career-bests off the bench. Olivia Boily, also a sophomore from Hudson, Wis., set a career-high with 12 points while grabbing seven rebounds. She was 5-of-9 from the floor, including hitting her only three of the night. Another sophomore, Abigail Kuboushek of Prior Lake, Minn., had a career-high with 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor. Aside from knocking in 2-of-4 from three-point range, she grabbed seven rebounds.

In addition, Carla Meyer had seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Gabby Martin added seven points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Overall, CSB struggled from the field on 20-of-60 shooting for 33.3 percent. However, Bennies  knocked down 10-of-27 from three-point range while UMM hit just 4-of-17 from distance.

CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin, who collected his 717^th career win, noted the team's tough defense was a key to the win. "We made it tough on ourselves at times, but our defense made big play after big play down the stretch," he said.

In a game that had 10 tied scores and nine lead changes, CSB's ability to get second chance points proved important with a 12-to-7 edge, which, in part, came from a 12-to-6 margin on the offensive glass. That edge was part of St. Ben's 42-to-36 edge on the boards. In addition, the Bennies had a 22-to-14 edge in bench points and a 21-to-14 margin in points off turnovers.

Minnesota Morris, which had three double-digit scorers, led by Haley Wollschlager with 11 points, had a 28-to-18 advantage in points in the paint.

In the opening quarter, CSB came out fast by hitting 7-of-18 field goals for an 18-15 lead at the quarter break. The Bennies, which hit four triples in nine attempts in the quarter, had a 15-6 lead after a three pointer from Jonas and a basket from Boily. At the break, CSB led, 18-15.

CSB's shooting was not as solid in quarter two as the Bennies hit just 3-of-13 from the field for 23.08 percent and were outscored, 16-to-8 as the homestanding Cougars took a 31-26 lead to the break.

Down five at the break, CSB rallied in the third quarter, utilizing a 15-to-8 mark to take a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter. CSB hit 6-of-15 from the floor for 40 percent and made 2-of-4 on triples in the third quarter.

In the final quarter, the teams combined for five ties, including 52-52 tie after Martin made a free throw with 1:16 to play. CSB, which hit just 4-of-14 field goals for 29 percent in the final quarter, made some key shots at the foul stripe down the stretch, The Bennies made three free throws, including two from Kuboushek with 21 seconds left for a 55-52 lead. When the Bennies forced a defensive stop and Martin converted a jumper with 14 seconds left, CSB had opened the season with a road win.