ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- With an experienced team returning, including a pair of All-MIAC standouts, the College of Saint Benedict Basketball Team is set to open the 2023-24 season by hosting the Top-Off Classic on Nov. 10-11.

The games are set to begin on Friday at 6 p.m., with St. Olaf against Northwestern which will be followed by CSB's home opener against Minnesota Morris at 8 p.m. On Saturday, St. Olaf plays Minnesota Morris at 1 p.m., while the Bennies face Northwestern at 3 p.m.

CSB Tip-Off Classic - Schedule
Friday, Nov. 10              
6 p.m. --    St. Olaf vs. Northwestern (St. Paul)
8 p.m. -- Minnesota Morris vs. Saint Benedict 
Saturday, Nov. 11 
1 p.m. -- St. Olaf vs. Minnesota Morris 
3 p.m. -- Northwestern (St. Paul) vs. Saint Benedict 
 

Inside Look at the Bennies -
CSB returns three starters including senior guard Carla Meyer, senior forward Lydia Hay, and junior guard Sophia Jonas. 

In the 2022-23 season, CSB finished third in the MIAC with a 14-8 record, and 18-9 overall. Led by guards Carla Meyer and Sophia Jonas, who were both All-MIAC honorees, the Bennies advanced to the MIAC league tournament semifinals for the third time in six years. 

The Bennies finished the 2022-23 season ranking fourth in the MIAC offensively scoring a total of 1,702 points and averaging 63.0 points per game. CSB shot 39% (643 made) from the field and 29% (174 made) from the 3-point arch. 

Jonas and Meyer were the most productive duo in terms of three-point shooting in school history. They have combined for a school-record 243 made threes. In the past two years as teammates, they have 221 made threes, which is also a two-year mark for a pair of teammates at CSB. 
 

Senior guard, Carla Meyer, has scored double digit points 50 times in her career, with an additional three career double doubles. Meyer averaged a team-high of 14.9 points per game (5th overall in MIAC) with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.5. Throughout her career, she has totaled 855 points, 299 rebounds, 115 three-pointers, which ranks 10th all-time at CSB. She also has 76 steals and 209 assists. In her career, Meyer has shot 334-800 in field goals for 41.8% and 72-88 for 81.8% in free throws. 

Junior guard Sophia Jonas set several three-point shooting records during the 2022-23 season when she averaged 12.9 points per game. Jonas set the MIAC and CSB record for total threes in a season with 84. Jones, who has 32 career double-digit scoring games, has scored 558 career points. In her two years at CSB, she has 128 three-pointers, which ranks. Twenty-four times, she has hit three or more three-pointers in a game.  

Senior forward, Lydia Hay, is a crucial player inside the paint for the Bennies looking for a break out season after averaging 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 season.  Sophomore guard, Megan Morgan, is coming off a successful start to her career after playing in 26 games and starting in three games. Morgan shot 51.8% from the field and 25% from the three-point arch, including 83 total rebounds and 26 assists. 

Also returning after playing a year ago include junior forward Abigail Kuboushek, sophomore forward Kira Young, sophomore wing Megan Driste, junior forward Morgan Chmielewski, sophomore Ashleigh Steinbach, along with Morgan Ebel, who missed the season due to injury. Several talented newcomers have also joined the Bennies for 2023-24.

Series Records - 

St. Olaf vs. Northwestern - St. Olaf leads 12-3. Last meeting: St. Olaf 74 Northwestern 58, Dec. 2, 1997, St. Paul, Minn. 

St. Benedict vs. Minnesota Morris - CSB leads 12-3. Last meeting: CSB 57 

Minnesota 52, Nov. 12, 2022, Morris, Minn.

St. Olaf vs. Minnesota Morris - Tied 3-3. Last meeting: St. Olaf 64 Minnesota 45, Nov. 16, 2022, Northfield, Minn. 

St. Benedict vs. Northwestern - CSB leads 5-2. Last Meeting CSB 93 Northwestern 48, Dec. 11, 1990, St. Joseph, Minn. 

Head Coach Mike Durbin Leads CSB

Veteran head coach Mike Durbin begins his 38th season with the Bennies in 2023-24. Durbin became the 17th active coach at all levels of the NCAA to reach the 700-win milestone on Feb. 24, 2021. In 37 seasons, Durbin has coached 72 All-MIAC first team selections, 54 honorable mention athletes, 15 players named to the All-MIAC Defensive Team and 15 all-first year team picks. Durbin has a 734-273 (.729) overall coaching record and a 730-251 mark with Saint Benedict. He ranks 15th among all active coaches regardless of NCAA division and has the most wins by any active DIII coach. He ranks 36nd all-time for most wins in a career, regardless of division. He is third all-time in wins in NCAA DIII.  In addition to his outstanding overall coaching record at CSB, Durbin holds a 571-181 mark in conference play. The 571 wins is the most by an active coach in the MIAC.  In 2022-23, Durbin directed the Bennies to an 18-9 overall record and 14-8 for a tie for third in the MIAC. It was his 32nd winning season as a head coach.

Meet the rest of the Field

Minnesota Morris Notes
The Cougars, which lost the opener, 90-73 to Concordia-Moorhead on Nov. 8, are led by head coach, Tim Grove, who is in his 18th season as head coach. At Minnesota Morris, Coach Grove boasts an overall record of 262-176 and a conference record of 185-55. The Cougars finished the 2022-23 season with a overall record of 10-15 and a conference record of 8-6. The Cougars return three players who started all 25 games last season – Malory Anderson, Jay Kwateh, and Jadyn Sondrol. Anderson and Kwateh were each All-UMAC in 2022-23 and were also on the UMAC All-Defensive Team, with Kwateh earning the UMAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Six others return from a year ago, while three newcomers will push for immediate roles. In the opener in 2023-24 against Concordia, Maddy Grove was the leading scorer for Minnesota Morris with 14 points while Grace Perry and Jay Kwateh notched 11.

Northwestern Notes
The University of Northwestern Eagles are led by head coach, Aaron Kahl, who is entering his 14th season as the Head Women's Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Northwestern. Coach Kahl has been named the UMAC Coach of the year three times and the NCCAA Regional Coach of the year six times. The Eagles finished their 2022-23 season with an overall record of 19-9 and a conference record of 13-1.  UNW returns three core players who will look to lead their team through the 2023-24 season. Lexi Hagen has become a household name who averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and shot 87% from the free throw line in the 2022-23 season. Hagen will be joined by a pair of fellow juniors coming off of all-conference campaigns as sophomores. Rylie Hirschey's 7.9 points per game, 28 assists and 22 steals landed her on the All-UMAC second team. Returning inside will be Jasmine Sondrol, who averaged 7.6 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and dished out 35 assists, which earned her recognition as All-UMAC Honorable Mention.

St. Olaf Notes

St. Olaf is led by Jasmine Borgman as she is in her second season with the St. Olaf women's basketball program. She was recently promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach in July of 2023. In 2022-23, Borgmann helped St. Olaf to its first winning season since 2013-14, as the Oles finished 14-12 overall and 11-11 in MIAC play. The 14 wins and 11 MIAC victories were the program's highest totals since 2013-14, as St. Olaf qualified for the MIAC Playoffs for the first time since 2014 under the six-team format. The Oles will be led by junior forward, Paige Yagodinski, who averaged 10.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the 2022-23 season. She led the team this previous season in three-pointers made (49), assists, and steals. In addition to Yagodinski, junior guard, Sarah Tangen, will contribute coming off a succesful season. Tangen was names Academic All-MIAC while averaging 4.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.