ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With two straight league wins, the College of Saint Benedict Women's Basketball Team (4-1, 3-1 MIAC) will host Macalester (2-5, 1-3 MIAC) in MIAC action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Claire Lynch Hall.

CSB has opened the season with a 4-1 record, including 3-1 in MIAC play as they are tied with four other teams for second in the MIAC. The Bennies started the campaign with a pair of road wins, including a 57-52 decision over Minnesota Morris and a 63-59 overtime win at St. Olaf which opened MIAC play.  In the home opener on Nov. 22 against Gustavus, CSB dropped a 64-47 decision. On Saturday, Sophia Jonas scored 22 points and two others had double-digits as CSB cruised to a 82-68 win over Augsburg.

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PREVIEW - CSB VS MACALESTER

Series Notes
When CSB and Macalester play on Wednesday, it will be the 70^th all-time meeting with the Bennies owning a 62-7 overall lead in the series. In the last matchup, CSB took a 68-54 win on Feb. 15, 2022. At home CSB is 33-1 against the Scots and 29-6 on the road. In conference play, CSB owns a 60-6 overall edge. In the first match up on Jan. 7, 1981, the Bennies prevailed, 77-46 at St. Joseph, Minn. On Feb. 21, 1983, the Scots took a 63-43 win in St. Paul, Minn., for the first win in the series. From Jan. 27, 1996, to Feb. 5, 2011, St. Ben's won 29 straight games.

Breaking Down Macalester
Macalester is directed by fourth-year head coach Katie Kollar, who has a 14-48 overall record at Macalester. Prior to joining the Scots, she was head coach at SUNY Cobleskill from 2015-2019. In her career, she has a record of 60-103. This season, Macalester has been outscored by opponents, 68.3-to-55.9 points per game. The Scots have hit 40.6 percent from three-point range for fifth in the league and 25.2 percent from the field for 11th in the MIAC. The team is led in scoring by Peyton Starks, who puts up 17.6 points per game with Emma LaFrentz averaging 10.3 rebounds per game.

CSB Schedule Breakdown 
The Bennies will play five games in December, including two at home. After an 82-68 win over Augsburg on Saturday, they will face Macalester College at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Claire Lynch Hall, CSB will travel to Hamline in St. Paul, Minn., on Dec. 10 for a 3 p.m. contest. The Bennies close 2022 by playing at the Big Island Classic in Hilo, Hawaii including games with Worcester State on Dec. 18 and DePauw on Dec. 19 with both contests at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. After Jan. 1, 2023, CSB plays 15 games starting with a road trip to St. Catherine on Jan. 4. The MIAC Tournament Championship begins on Feb. 21 with the quarterfinals. The league title game is 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
 
Inside Look at CSB WBB
CSB is a veteran squad which returns All-MIAC point guard Carla Meyer along with All-MIAC honorable mention standouts Sophia Jonas and Gabby Martin from the 2021-22 team that was 15-11. In addition, senior Tori Szathmary was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team while Lydia Hay also returns as a starter.  CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin, who has 720 career wins, is ranked in the top 20 coaches in wins regardless of the division.  
 
SEASON BREAKDOWN
Jonas named MIAC Player of the Week
Sophia Jonas, who averaged 19.5 points and hit 55.6 percent on three-pointers in a pair of wins by the College of Saint Benedict Basketball this past week, was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Basketball Offensive Player of the Week on Dec. 5. A sophomore accounting major from Hudson, Wis., Jonas earned her first career MIAC weekly honor in leading the Bennies to wins over St. Scholastic, 77-50, on the road and Augsburg, 82-68, at home. She is CSB's first basketball player named MIAC Player of the Week since Maddie Schmitz was honored on Feb. 8, 2021 and 29^th overall in program history. In averaging 19.5 points, Jonas had games of 17 and 22 points while hitting 10-of-18 shots from three-point range for 55.6 percent. She made five three-pointers in back-to-back games for a career-first and now has had a career-best five made triples four times.

CSB opened with 57-52 win over Minnesota Morris on the road
Sophomore Sophia Jonas knocked down five threes and scored 15 points to lead CSB past Minnesota-Morris, 57-52, on Nov. 12 on the road. Both Olivia Boily (12 points and 7 rebounds) and Abigail Kubouchek (10 points and 7 rebounds) had career-highs in points and helped CSB to a 22-14 advantage in bench scoring. With the win, CSB improved its series lead over UMM to 12-3 with a 12^th straight win in the series.

Bennies win MIAC opener in overtime at St. Olaf
Carla Meyer, Sophia Jonas and Tori Szathmary scored in double-digits and sparked a second-half rally as the College of Saint Benedict (2-0, 1-0 MIAC) opened MIAC play with a 63-59 road win in overtime over St. Olaf (3-1, 0-1) on Nov. 19. Trailing 32-28 at halftime, the Bennies outscored the Oles, 28-24 in the second half to force overtime. With a 7-3 advantage in the extra session, CSB earned the victory in the closely contested league match up. The key play in the second half (overtime) was from junior forward Lydia Hay (seven points), who converted a three-point play with 16 seconds left to give the Bennies a 61-59 lead. Then, Szathmary had a pair of foul shots late to help the Bennies to the win. It was the 10^th straight victory in the series for the Bennies, which owns a 63-10 all-time mark. Senior center Tori Szathmary recorded the fourth double-double of her career with 14 points and tied a career-high with 13 rebounds (Augsburg, March 3, 2021). In her ninth career double-digit scoring game, Szathmary was 4-of-10 from the floor, hit 1-of-2 from three-point range and 5-6 at the foul line. With the 13 rebounds, she surpassed 300 rebounds for her career (305). Sophomore guard Sophia Jonas continued her sharpshooting from the perimeter by scoring 15 points for the second straight game. She was 4-of-8 from three-point range and had two rebounds. Junior guard Carla Meyer led the team with 18 points.

CSB falls to Gustavus
In its home opener, CSB dropped a 64-47 MIAC decision to Gustavus Adolphus (4-0, 2-0 MIAC) on Nov. 22 at Claire Lynch Hall. CSB was led in scoring by junior guard Carla Meyer who had 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Overall, the Bennies had struggles shooting from the field as they hit just 25.4 percent on 15-of-59 shooting, including 5-of-27 in the second half. CSB was 4-of-25 from three-point range for 16 percent but knocked down 13-of-18 free throws for 72.2 percent. CSB trailed just 17-15 after the first quarter before Gustavus had a 21-13 margin in the second to take a 38-28 lead to halftime. CSB was outscored, 20-10 in the third quarter as the Gusties built a 58-to-38 lead. The Bennies outscored Gustavus, 9-to-6 in the fourth quarter but it was not enough.

Bennies roll past St. Scholastica, 77-50
Sophia Jonas tied a career-high with five three-pointers and four players scored in double-digits to lead the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (3-1, 2-1 MIAC) to a 77-50 road win over St. Scholastica (0-5, 0-3 MIAC) on Nov. 30 in MIAC action. St. Ben's scored 20 points or more in three of four quarters for the first time this year. The Bennies took control of the game with a 14-2 run in the second quarter which pushed the lead to 40-24 at the break.  The Bennies hit a season-best 41.5 percent from the field by making 27-of-65 field goals. In the opening half, CSB was particularly effective by hitting 16-of-31 field goals for 51 percent.

CSB runs past Augsburg, 82-68 as Jonas scores 22
In winning its second straight game and fourth in five outings, the College of Saint Benedict Basketball Team (4-1, 3-1 MIAC) featured clutch shooting, dominating rebounding and major contributions off the bench in defeating Augsburg (5-2, 2-2 MIAC), 82-68, on Dec. 3 at Claire Lynch Hall. CSB had career-best performances off the bench from sophomore forward Olivia Boily (13 points), first-year guard Megan Morgan (seven points) as well as a near career-high from sophomore sharpshooter Sophia Jonas (22 points). CSB jumped to a 21-18 lead after one quarter and led, 43-30, at the halftime break. Then, with a 39-38 edge in the second half, the Bennies came away with a season-high in points in its best game of the young season. In the 77^th meeting, CSB earned its 62^nd win and now have a 28-10 home mark against Augsburg. Jonas just missed a career-high with 22 points (23 points, St. Olaf, 1/10/22) as she has now reached double-digits in points for the fourth time in five games. For the fourth time in her career she hit five three pointers, doing so on 10 attempts.  In total, CSB had three players in double digits as junior point guard Carla Meyer had 17 points to go with eight assists, five rebounds and two steals. For the seventh time in her career, she hit four three-pointers in a game as she did it efficiently on seven shots.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Inside look at CSB
This year, St. Benedict is averaging 65.2 points per game for fourth in the league while allowing 56.3 for fourth in the MIAC. The Bennies rank first in the league with 8.4 made three-pointers per game (42 total). In addition, defensively, CSB is holding opponents to 29.8 percent shooting (6th, MIAC) from three-point range and 36.1 percent (5^th, MIAC) overall from the field.

Bennies Player Notes
Guard Carla Meyer, a junior from New Brighton, Minn., has scored double digits in 25 of 28 games (32 double-digit career scoring games), including a career-best 26 points against Bethel on Feb. 2, 2022. Meyer, who has a time of 18 points this year vs St. Olaf on Nov. 19, has double-digit points in four straight games. is averaging 13.4 points per game for 12^th in the MIAC. She has grabbed 4.0 rebounds with 5.4 assists per game. Meyer, who has made four threes in a game seven times, has totaled 519 points (67 this year), 174 rebounds (20 this year), 82 three-pointers (34.7 percent on 236 attempts), 38 games, 37 starts, 46 steals and 140 assists. She is 193-of-481 in field goals for 40.1 percent and 51-of-61 for 83.6 percent in free throws in her career.

Gabby Martin, a senior from Pillager, Minn., scored a career-high 17 points against St. Olaf on Feb. 9, 2022, and has a high of eight rebounds at St. Scholastica on Nov. 20, 2021, with a high of six assists also against St. Olaf on Feb. 9, 2022. Martin is averaging 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2022-23. With nine steals this year in four games, Martin ranks 17th in the league. She had five steals on Jan. 10, 2022, against St. Olaf on the road for her career best. Martin, who has made 23 career threes at CSB, now has 281 career points, 60 steals, 59 assists and 125 rebounds in playing in her second year with the program.
  
Tori Szathmary  has four career double-doubles, including the latest against St. Olaf on Nov. 19, 2022. She has nine double-digit rebounds totals with a career-high in rebounds of 13 against Augsburg on the road on March 3, 2021, and against St. Olaf on Nov. 22, 22022. This season she is averaging 6.6 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per game which places her fifth in the MIAC. She has three blocked shots this season and 22 in her career. She set a career-best in points with 17 against Bethany Lutheran on Nov. 13, 2021. Originally of Lakewood, Colo., she has played in 62 games at CSB. Szathmary has scored double-digits nine times. Szathmary has 312 (33 in 2022-23) career points with 336 career rebounds (41 this year). Szathmary, who is the co-president of the SAAC, has 107 career offensive boards and 18 this year. She has twice made two threes in a game and has 19 made triples in her career. In her career, she is 115-of-318 from the floor for 36.2 percent and 19-of-61 from three-point range for 31.1 percent. She has 59 made three throws in 113 attempts.
 
Junior forward Lydia Hay has recorded six double-digit scoring games, and reached double digits in rebounds once (11, Wisconsin-Superior, 11/23/21).She has one double-digit game this year against St. Scholastica on Nov. 30. This year, Hay is averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game with three blocked shots. Originally of Maple Grove, Minn., Hay, who has 191 points and 121 rebounds in her career, scored a career-best 14 points against Macalester on 12/11/21. In 35 career games, including 28 at CSB, she has hit 69-of-198 field goals for 34.8 percent and is 21-of-90 from three-point range.
 
Sophomore wing Sophia Jonas has scored double-digits in four of the five games this season. She now has 13 career double-digit scoring games. Jonas, who earned her first-ever MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor on Dec. 5, scored 19.5 points and hit 55.6 percent of her three-pointers (10-of-18) in wins over St. Scholastic and Augsburg. Jonas has matched her career-best of five made three times this year and has made five triples four times in her career.  In 2022-23, Jonas has supplied 14.6 points per game for eighth in the MIAC. Overall this year, she is 19-of-43 on made threes for 44.2 percent or third in the MIAC. Her 19 threes are tied for first in the league and her 3.8 per game is best in the MIAC. She is averaged 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. On Jan. 10, 2022, against St. Olaf, she had five threes and set her career high with 23 points. Thirteen times, she has hit three or more three-pointers in a game. She has 283 career points, two 20-point games, 63 (192 attempts, 32.3%) made three-pointers and 63 rebounds.  

Sophomore Olivia Boily set a career-best with 13 vs Augsburg on Dec. 3, 2022. It was her third double-digit game of the season. She has three double-digit games this year and in her career. She set her career-high in rebounds with seven against Minnesota-Morris in the opener on Nov. 12, 2022. Boily is averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this year. In 30 career games, she has 163 points (48 this year), 132 rebounds, j22 assists, 20 steals and 11 blocks. Boily has hit 2-of-4 from three-point range and 68-of-145 from the floor for 46.9 percent. This year, the sophomore is shooting a team-best 51.2 percent from field.  She has grabbed three or more rebounds four times this season and 16 times in her career. Twice she has reached double-digits in rebounds including a career best 11 against Carleton on Jan. 26, 2022.

Abigail Kuboushek, a sophomore from Prior Lake, Minn., opened her sophomore season by setting a career-best with 10 points and seven rebounds vs. Minnesota Morris. She also had three made three-point shots in 13 attempts. Kuboushek, who also recorded her first-double-digit scoring game against UMM this year, now has 59 points and 40 rebounds in her career in 21 games. She is averaging 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this year.
 
CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin has 720 career wins
Durbin, who is in his 37th season with the Bennies in 2022-23, recorded his 700th win at home (Claire Lynch Hall) on Feb. 24, 2021, in an 88-83 win over the University of St. Thomas. This season, the Bennies stand 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAC play. In 36 seasons, Durbin has recorded 32 winning teams, coached 70 All-MIAC First Team selections, 54 honorable mention athletes, 15 players All-MIAC Defensive Team members and 15 all-first year team picks. Overall, he has a 720-265 record, including 716-243 with the Saint Ben's program. Under Durbin's direction, CSB has averaged nearly 20 wins a season for nearly 40 years and has won or shared 13 MIAC championship titles. CSB has finished in the top four in the conference 29 times in his 36 seasons at the helm. CSB has also competed in the NCAA Tournament 17 times in Durbin's 36 years, including eight NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, three Elite 8 appearances and two NCAA Final Four appearances. In 2015-16, Durbin guided CSB to the 500th MIAC win in program history since joining the league in 1985. Saint Benedict is the third program to reach the milestone and was the last team to join the conference. He holds a 557-173 mark in conference play. He is 19th in the NCAA in total wins regardless of division. During the summer of 2003, Durbin was inducted into the Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. On Dec. 1, 2001, against Macalester at Claire Lynch Hall, Durbin surpassed former University of St. Thomas head coach Ted Riverso to become the winningest coach in MIAC women's basketball history. In 1992-93, Saint Benedict made its first appearance in the NCAA Final Four, and then repeated that accomplishment just six years later. In the 1998-99 season, he led CSB to the NCAA Championship game, finishing as the national runner-up with a 74-65 loss to Washington University (Mo). Four CSB basketball players have received MIAC Player of the Year honors, nine have received All-American Honors and five have received Academic All-American honors. Under Durbin's watch, 20 players have surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in their careers. Durbin, the eldest of nine children, was born and raised in Howard, Ohio. At East Knox High School, he competed in basketball and football. After his high school graduation in 1977, Durbin attended Kent State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and public relations in 1981. He later earned a master's degree from Ashland College in sports administration. He served as an interim coach at Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio) for one year before coming to CSB in 1986.