MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – After losing to Augsburg by a single point in January in Claire Lynch, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team was hoping to go to Minneapolis and pick up the season split with the Auggies Saturday afternoon.
Through three quarters, the Bennies were on track to meet their goal, but Augsburg cashed in at the line and was able to pull away for a 76-67 win to complete the season sweep.
The Bennies – who shot an impressive 52.9 percent from the field for the game, including better than 58 percent in the second and third quarters – were within two points of the league-leading Auggies heading into the fourth. But Augsburg started the final quarter on a 7-2 run to push their lead to seven, 58-51,.
Carla Meyer and
Gabby Martin hit back-to-back threes to make it a two-point game, 67-65, with two minutes remaining, but the Auggies went 7-for-7 from the line down the stretch to help seal the win.
The Bennies (13-9, 10-9) were able to keep Augsburg (17-5, 17-2) within five points at all times in the first quarter, and a late jumper from Meyer cut the gap to three, 16-13, heading into the second.
Madison Doran and Meyer scored to start the second and put the Bennies up, and later baskets from
Tori Szathmary and
Lydia Hay put the Bennies up four midway through the half. The Auggies hit a three to go up three, but Doran and
Olivia Boily hit free throws to get CSB within one, 32-31, at halftime.
CSB went on a 9-3 run to start the third and take a 40-35 lead thanks to a jumper from
Sophia Jonas, and maintained that lead until the final three minutes of the quarter. A layup from Boily tied the game at 49-49 with one minute left in the third, and a jumper with 35 seconds left gave Augsburg a two-point lead to set up the final 10 minutes of play.
Meyer finished with 16 points to lead Saint Benedict, Martin had 15 and Szathmary had nine points and 10 rebounds. The Bennies hit five threes, went just 8-for-17 from the line and had 32 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Anja Smith set the Augsburg school record with 39 points for the Auggies and she also pulled down six rebounds. Augsburg shot 46 percent from the field, went 18-for-23 from the line and had 32 rebounds and just six turnovers.
CSB wraps up the regular season with a pair of games next week, including a home game Monday, Feb. 14, against St. Kate's starting at 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch.
