ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With three straight league wins, the College of Saint Benedict Women's Basketball Team (5-1, 4-1 MIAC) face a road test at MIAC league leader Hamline (7-0, 5-0 MIAC) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at St. Paul, MN.

CSB has opened the season with a 5-1 record, including 4-1 in MIAC play as they are tied with three other teams for second in the MIAC. Hamline enters the game with a 7-0 record, including 5-0 in league play. 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. Since then, CSB has wins over St. Scholastica, 77-50; Augsburg, 82-68; and Macalester, 67-52. The Augsburg and Macalester wins were at home at Claire Lynch Hall. On Saturday, Sophia Jonas scored 22 points and two others had double-digits as CSB cruised to a 82-68 win over Augsburg. This past Wednesday CSB cruised past Macalester with a 67-52 win as Jonas, Gabby Martin and Carla Meyer each scored 15  points. Two CSB players, Gabby Martin (296) and Sophia Jonas (298) are approaching 300 career points.

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PREVIEW - CSB VS HAMLINE

Series Notes
When CSB and Hamline play on Saturday, it will be the 71^st all-time meeting with the Bennies owning a 62-9 overall lead in the series. In the last matchup, CSB dropped a 78-61 loss on Feb. 12, 2022. At home CSB is 35-4 against the Pipers and 20-6 on the road. In the first match up on Jan. 12, 1982, the Bennies prevailed, 80-33 at St. Joseph, Minn. On Jan. 4, 1986, the Pipers took a 75-52 win in St. Joseph, for the first win in the series. From Jan. 3, 1997, to Feb. 16, 2008, St. Ben's won 43 straight games.

Breaking Down Hamline
Hamline is directed by sixth-year head coach Alex Focke, who has a 53-54 overall record. In his first three seasons, Focke and his staff have worked to turn the program around, going from four wins in 2017-18 to 13 in the following season. In 2019-20, Hamline made the MIAC Playoff Tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season, ending with a 15-11 overall record. The 15 wins was the most the program had recorded since 2008-09. This season, Hamline has outscored their opponents, 67.9-to-46.9 points per game in opening the season with seven straight wins. The Pipers have hit 34.6 percent from three-point range for first in the league and 42.5 percent from the field for third in the MIAC. The team is led in scoring by Lydia Lecher, who puts up 14.0 points per game and averages 5.6 rebounds per game.  

CSB Schedule Breakdown 
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 721 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 14.7 points and hit 46.8 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, Augsburg, 82-68, at home, and Macalester,67-52, also 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 14.7 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.

With double-double from Szathmary, CSB wins 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.

Jonas records 22 points while Boily and Morgan have career highs in 82-68 win over Augsburg
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.
 
Meyer, Martin and Jonas lead CSB to win over Macalester, 67-52
The trio of Carla Meyer, Gabby Martin and Sophia Jonas all scored 15 points to lead the College of Saint Benedict Basketball Team (5-1, 4-1 MIAC) to its third straight win in a 67-52 MIAC win over Macalester (2-6, 1-4 MIAC) on Dec. 7^th at Claire Lynch Hall. The Bennies moved to 4-1 in league play and sit in a four-way tie for second place with Gustavus Adolphus, St. Catherine and Bethel. CSB, which is 5-1 overall, registered its second straight home league win. Early on, the game was close as the Bennies led, 13-11, at the first quarter break. With an 18-10 margin in the second quarter, CSB took a 31-21 lead to halftime. The Scots outscored CSB, 17-16, in the third quarter to stay within 47-38 at the third quarter break before the Bennies had a 20-14 margin to record a third straight double-digit win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Inside look at CSB
This year, St. Benedict is averaging 65.5 points per game for fourth in the league while allowing 57.5 for fourth in the MIAC. The Bennies rank second in the league with 7.8 made three-pointers per game (47 total). In addition, defensively, CSB is holding opponents to 27.4 percent shooting (4th, 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 26 of 29 games (33 double-digit career scoring games), including a career-best 26 points against Bethel on Feb. 2, 2022. Meyer, who has a high of 18 points this year vs St. Olaf on Nov. 19, has double-digit points in five straight games. She is averaging 13.7 points per game for 10^th in the MIAC and has grabbed 4.0 rebounds while dishing 5.0 assists per game. Meyer, who has made four threes in a game seven times, has totaled 534 points (82 this year), 183 rebounds (29 this year), 83 three-pointers (34.3 percent on 236 attempts), 39 games, 38 starts, 47 steals and 143 assists. She is 200-of-495 in field goals for 40.4 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, who has 17 double digit scoring games in her career, is averaging 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 2022-23. She registered her first double-digit points game in 2022-23 with 15 against Macalester on Dec. 7, 2022. With eleven steals this year in five games, Martin ranks 13th 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 24 career threes at CSB, is approaching 300 career points (296), 62 steals, 62 assists and 129 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 6.2 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game which places her eighth in the MIAC. She has four blocked shots this season and 23 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 63 games at CSB. Szathmary has scored double-digits nine times. Szathmary has 316 (37 in 2022-23) career points with 338 career rebounds (43 this year). Szathmary, who is the co-president of the SAAC, has 108 career offensive boards and 19 this year. She has twice made two threes in a game and has 19 made triples in her career. In her career, she is 118-of-328 from the floor for 36.0 percent and 19-of-62 from three-point range for 30.6 percent. She has 61 made three throws in 115 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 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game with five blocked shots. Originally of Maple Grove, Minn., Hay, who has 191 points and 123 rebounds in her career, scored a career-best 14 points against Macalester on 12/11/21. In 36 career games, including 29 at CSB, she has hit 69-of-201 field goals for 34.3 percent and is 21-of-90 from three-point range.
 
Sophomore wing Sophia Jonas has scored double-digits in five of the six games this season. She now has 14 career double-digit scoring games. Jonas, who earned her first-ever MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor on Dec. 5, averaged 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 14.7 points per game for seventh in the MIAC. Overall this year, she is 22-of-47 on made threes for 46.8 percent for first in the MIAC. Her 22 threes put her at first in the league and her 3.7 per game is best in the MIAC. She is averaging 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. On Jan. 10, 2022, against St. Olaf, she had five threes and set her career high with 23 points. Fourteen times, she has hit three or more three-pointers in a game. Like Martin, Jonas is close to 300 career points with 298 career points. She has two 20-point games, 66 (196 attempts, 33.7%) made three-pointers and 64 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 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this year. In 31 career games, she has 167 points (52 this year), 138 rebounds, 22 assists, 23 steals and 11 blocks. Boily has hit 2-of-6 from three-point range and 70-of-150 from the floor for 46.7 percent. This year, the sophomore is shooting 50.0 percent from field.  She has grabbed three or more rebounds five times this season and 17 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 16 attempts. Kuboushek, who also recorded her first-double-digit scoring game against UMM this year, now has 63 points and 41 rebounds in her career in 22 games. She is averaging 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game this year.
 
CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin has 721 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 5-1 overall and 4-1 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 721-265 record, including 717-243 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.