ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- With four wins in six games, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (6-3, 4-1 MIAC) will open the new year by hosting St. Olaf (2-7, 1-4 MIAC) in MIAC play on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m., at Claire Lynch Hall. CSB is also set to face St. Scholastica in a road test at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 6, in Duluth, Minn.
CSB sits in third place in the MIAC with a 4-1 record with an overall record of 6-3. St. Olaf is 2-7 overall and 1-4 in MIAC after three straight setbacks in conference play.
Inside CSB Basketball
As a team, Saint Benedict is ranked third in the MIAC by averaging 70.2 points per game. The Bennies, which rank second in the MIAC and 26th in NCAA DIII with a 44.0 field goal percentage, have a 7.1 margin of victory for third in the MIAC. The Bennies rank third in the MIAC (31st in NCAA DIII) in three-point field goal percentage at 34.2 percent (82-of-240) and with 9.1 threes per game is first in the MIAC and 10th in NCAA DIII. Saint Benedict is second in the MIAC in assists per game at 15.1. In assist-turnover ratio, CSB is first in the MIAC and 20th in NCAA DIII at 1.18.
Sophia Jonas leads the MIAC and is tied for third in NCAA DIII with 3.7 three-pointers per game with her league-best 33 total three-pointers ranking 10
th in NCAA DIII.
With 981 career points in 69 career games, senior guard
Carla Meyer is on the verge of becoming the 21st player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. With 23 points, she moved into the top 20 and past Brianna Barrett with 1,003 points from 2010-14 in 82 games.
About the Oles
Directed by second-year head coach Jasmine Borgmann, St. Olaf is averaging 57.9 points per game for ninth in the MIAC in its 2-7 start. Through nine games in 2023-24, the Oles allow just 66.1 points per game for 10th in the MIAC. Individually, Sarah Tangen leads the Oles in scoring at 10.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Cholee Smith adds 10.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Series Notes
In the all-time series between St. Olaf and Saint Benedict, the Bennies have a 64-10 series edge. The Bennies, which has won 11 straight, have a 33-5 home record and sit 64-7 in MIAC play. In the first match-up between the schools, CSB dropped a 66-51 decision on Dec. 1, 1981. In the most recent match up on Jan. 28, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn., CSB recorded a 79-50 decision as
Carla Meyer had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds with three assists and
Lydia Hay supplied 12 points.
Quick Review
Saint Benedict opened the year with a pair of nonconference wins over Minnesota Morris, 70-54, and Northwestern (St. Paul), 79-70, to win the CSB Tip-off Tournament Championship. Junior guard,
Sophia Jonas, was named Tournament MVP after averaging 23.5 points. She and senior guard,
Carla Meyer, who averaged 15.5 points per game, were named to the CSB Tip-Off All-Tournament Team. Just before the Thanksgiving break, CSB dropped an 82-75 decision at UW-River Falls despite a career-high 26 points by
Sophia Jonas, a junior guard who has earned a pair of MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors already in 2023-24. On Nov. 29, the Bennies recorded a 74-55 MIAC road win at Saint Mary's as
Kira Young had a career-high in points with 17 and rebounds with seven.
Carla Meyer added 17 points and a team-season-high eight assists in the victory. With 17 points from Young and 11 by Meyer, CSB defeated Hamline, 77-64, at home on Dec. 2. Then, the Bennies defeated Augsburg, 67-38, on the road as Young had a career-high 19 points and Meyer had 11 points in the victory. Despite 22 points from
Carla Meyer, CSB dropped a 77-61 decision at Concordia on Dec. 6. In a 66-58 MIAC win over Macalester,
Kira Young had 11 points and seven rebounds. Then, despite a late rally to earn a tie, CSB dropped a 70-63 loss to Grinnell on the road when
Carla Meyer scored 18 points (all in the second half) with nine rebounds while
Sophia Jonas added 15 points, including five triples.
Player Notes – Jonas ranks 4th on CSB's 3-point career chart
Sophia Jonas, who was named the CSB Invite Tournament MVP, is averaging 15.7 points per game for third in the MIAC. She has earned MIAC Offensive Basketball Player of the Week twice Nov. 13, and Nov. 20. Jonas is one of two players in CSB history (Laura Wendorff) to earn the MIAC weekly honor four times. Jonas now has 161 career threes and is fourth on CSB's all-time list. Jonas, who has her 161 threes in just 61 games, is six back of Darby Noreen at 167 in 102 games from 2003-07; 19 behind Michelle Barlau at 180 in 105 games from 1999-03 and 25 from the all-time leader Ashley Brown, who had 186 in 107 games from 2000-04. Thirty-two times, including seven of nine games this year, she has made three or more triples in a game. Jonas now has six 20-point games in her career. Jonas, who has 39 career double-digit scoring games, has 699 career points, and 135 rebounds with 90 assists in her career. In 2023-24, Jonas has made 50-of-111 field goals for 45 percent (10th, MIAC) and 33-of-79 from three-point range for 41.8 percent (2nd, MIAC). She has made six triples in a game three times in her career, including twice in 2023-24 (UW-River Falls, Minnesota Morris). Jonas leads the MIAC and is tied for third in NCAA DIII with 3.7 three-pointers per game with her league-best 33 total three-pointers ranking 10
th in NCAA DIII.
Senior guard
Carla Meyer, who is averaging 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, has 58 double digit scoring games, including six in 2023-24. In her career Meyer has three career double-doubles. With 17 three-pointers this season, she now has 132 in her career for eighth all-time at CSB. Meyer, who is approaching 1,000 career points with 981 in 69 career games, earned her first-ever MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor on Dec. 4 after averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in wins over Saint Mary's on Nov. 29 and Hamline on Dec. 2. With her seventh career 20-point game in the 77-61 loss to Concordia on Dec. 6, Meyer ranks second all-time in program history in career assists per game at 3.7, sitting just back of Patty Meyer, 4.7, 1985-89. In terms of total assists, Meyer is 12th on the career chart at 241 and just 10 away from the top 10. In 11th place is Jennifer Nash, who had 249 from 1982-85 and in 10th place all-time at CSB is Sue Yorkovich with 251 from 1989-92.
Kira Young, who is averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, set a career high in points with 19 and five rebounds in 67-38 road win at Augsburg on Dec. 2. Six times this season and in her career, Young has recorded double-digit points. She has double-digit scoring games of 13 vs Northwestern, 10 against UW-River Falls, 17 against St. Mary's, 12 against Hamline; career-high 19 against Augsburg (12-4-23); and 11 vs. Macalester. Five times she has six or more rebounds, setting a career-high seven three times. She has a career-high four assists against Northwestern (11/11/23). Young has hit 39-of-87 field goals for 44.8 percent.
Sophomore guard
Megan Morgan is averaging 8.4 points per game while also totaling 20 assists (2.2 apg) on the season. Morgan has four career double-digit point games with a high 14 on Feb. 11, 2023. Morgan has double-digit points in three games this year with her season-high of 11 against Concordia-Moorhead on Dec. 6. She has scored eight or more points 11 times. Morgan has 190 career points, 44 assists, 112 rebounds, and 16 made threes in her career.
Senior forward,
Lydia Hay is averaging 9.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Hay has 13 double-digit scoring games with a high of 17 points against Hamline on Dec. 2, 2023. She has one double-digit rebound game of 11 against UW-Superior on Nov. 23, 2021. Hay has totaled 386 points and 229 rebounds in her career at CSB and 401 points and 232 rebounds overall (seven games at MSU-Moorhead, 2020-21). She had a season-best average of 4.2 rebounds in 2021-22. In addition, she has nine blocked shots, including at least one block five times and a career-high four vs Grinnell on Dec. 10, 2023.
Megan Driste, a sophomore guard, who is averaging 4.9 points per game, set a career-high with eight points against Northwestern (St. Paul) on 11/11/23 and against Macalester on 12/9/23. Against Northwestern, she established career-bests with six rebounds, three assists and two steals as well as two made three-pointers (tied against Macalester). With six conversions in her last 11 field goals, Driste has made 16-of-32 field goals for 50 percent and 9-of-21 field goals for 42.9 percent in 2023. In her career, Driste has hit 20-of-47 field goals for 42.6 percent, including 10-of-29 three field goals for 34.5 percent. She scored 55 points and grabbed 28 rebounds while dishing 17 assists.
Morgan Chmielewski, a junior forward, is averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a game and has recorded a career-high nine points three times this year against UW-River Falls on 11/16/23, Saint Mary's on 11/23/23, and Macalester on 12/9/23. Chmielewski also grabbed a career high in rebounds with seven against Grinnell on Dec. 10, 2023. She leads the Bennies by hitting 18-of-33 field goals for 54.5 percent while making a 19-of-24 free throws for 79.2 percent.
CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin has 740 career wins
Veteran head coach
Mike Durbin is in his 38th season with the CSB program 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 740-276 (.728) overall coaching record and a 736-254 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. Durbin ranks 36th 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 575-182 mark in conference play.
Season Review
Sophia Jonas had a career-high 26 but CSB Basketball falls at UW-River Falls, 82-75
Sophia Jonas had a career-high 26 points, including six three pointers, but the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (2-1) dropped an 82-75 road decision to UW-River Falls (2-1) in nonconference play. The Bennies battled back from an 11-point deficit to take the lead after three quarters at 62-61. Down 75-68 in the fourth quarter, Jonas keyed a 7-0 run with five straight points for a tie in the final minute. However, the Falcons closed the game on a 7-0 run to take the victory. Jonas was one of three Bennies in double digits as senior forward
Lydia Hay had season-highs with 13 points and nine rebounds along with an assist and a steal. Hay now has 11 double-digit scoring games in her career. Sophomore forward
Kira Young recorded her second double-digit game of the season by adding 10 points and six rebounds with three assists. Sophomore forward
Morgan Chmielewski had a career-high nine points (six points, Gustavus Adolphus, 2/24/23) on 4-of-5 shooting, including 1-of-2 from three-point range. She also supplied three rebounds and a steal. Sophomore guard
Megan Morgan added eight points.
Tournament MVP Sophia Jonas leads CSB Basketball to 79-70 win over Northwestern
Tournament MVP
Sophia Jonas scored 22 points to lead a 79-70 come-from-behind win by the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (2-0) over Northwestern (1-1) in the final game of the CSB Tip-off Tournament, which concluded Nov. 11 at Claire Lynch Hall. Jonas hit 9-of-16 shots from the field, including 4-of-11 from three-point range for her 22 points. She also had two rebounds, three steals and an assist. In scoring 17 points,
Carla Meyer hit 8-of-18 shots from the field, including knocking in her 118th career three-pointer which moves her ninth all-time at CSB.
Kira Young had a career best scoring 13 points and recording six rebounds while supplying an assist, bloc, and steal against Northwestern.
Megan Morgan on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. Morgan added three assists and three rebounds while registering a block. Also reaching a career-high was sophomore
Megan Driste who was 3-of-5 from the field for eight points, while tying for a team-high with a career-best six rebounds. Driste hit both of her three-point field goals and had two steals.
CSB rolls past Minnesota Morris, 70-54, in opener
Sophia Jonas scored 25 points and led three players in double digits as CSB successfully opened the season with a 70-54 win over Minnesota Morris on Friday, Nov. 10 as part of the CSB Tip-Off Tournament. CSB's 15th straight season-opening win came in the CSB Tip-Off Tourney which also includes teams from St. Olaf, Northwestern-St. Paul. The Bennies opened a 23-16 lead and extended the margin to nine points at halftime at 43-34. With a 12-to-9 edge in the third quarter, CSB led, 55-43, and then outscored the Cougars, 10-to-6, in the fourth quarter to grab the 70-54 decision. Jonas had six triples in 15 attempts as she totaled 25 points while supplying a pair of assists and recording a steal. She was 9-of-18 from the field overall.
Carla Meyer also registered a team-high five rebounds with an assist in 33 minutes. She hit 6-of-13 shots and was 2-of-7 from three-point range.
Young and Meyer lead CSB Basketball to 74-55 win over Saint Mary's
Young reached double-digits for a third consecutive game but set a career-high with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Young, who also had a career-high with seven rebounds, also hit 2-of-4 from three-point range and 1-of-2 at the free throw line while adding three assists, a steal and a block. Meyer, who had her 53rd career double-digit scoring game, scored 17 points to go with a team-season high eight assists and five rebounds along with three steals. Meyer hit 8-of-13 shots from the floor, and recorded a three-pointer, the 119th of her career. She also surpassed 900 points (909) in her career. The eight assists by Meyer were one away from her career-high (9, Augsburg, 3/3/2021) as CSB had 19 as a team, the second highest total of the year for the Bennies. For the fourth straight game,
Sophia Jonas reached double-digits with 11 points while she set a career-high with five assists and had three rebounds. Jonas hit 3-of-5 from three-point range and now has 147 for her career, just four away from tying Amy Stifter, who had 151 from 2007-11, on CSB's all-time three-point list. Playing in her hometown, sophomore guard
Megan Morgan added 10 points, three rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot. Junior forward
Morgan Chmielewski tied her career-high with nine points (UW-River Falls, 11/16/23) and set a career-high with five rebounds, including a career-best of three offensive boards as the Bennies had 10 as a team and 37 total rebounds for the game. Overall, CSB hit 30-of-61 field goals for 49.2 percent, including 9-of-24 from three-point range for 37.5 percent. On the night, the Bennies outshot SMU which was 23-of-63 from the field for 36.5 percent and made 8-of-17 from three-point range for 47.1 percent.
Lydia Hay's career-best 17 points lead Bennies past Hamline
Lydia Hay scored a career high 17 points to lead CSB to a 77-64 win over Hamline on Dec. 2 at Claire Lynch Hall. Hay had nine points in a first half in which the Bennies were 12-for-16 at the free throw line in route to taking a 36-29 halftime lead. Sophomore post
Kira Young scored seven of her 12 points before halftime. She finished the game tied with senior point guard/wing
Carla Meyer for the team lead with nine rebounds as CSB had 40 rebounds as they had 19 more boards than the Pipers.
Carla Meyer finished with 11 points. Junior forward
Morgan Chmielewski added eight points and five rebounds. CSB finished 25-for-52 (48.1 percent) from the field as a team. The Pipers (2-1, 3-1) were 25-for-66 (37.9 percent).
Young and Meyer lead CSB to 67-38 road win over Augsburg
Sophomore forward
Kira Young recorded a career-high 19 points and senior guard
Carla Meyer added 11 as the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (5-1, 3-0 MIAC) rolled to a third straight double-digit win in MIAC play after defeating Augsburg (1-5, 0-4 MIAC), 67-38, on the road Monday night (Dec. 4). Against Augsburg, CSB opened fast and led, 17-13, after the first quarter. With a 22-8 second quarter, the Bennies took a 39-21 lead at the halftime break. In the second half, Saint Benedict outscored the Auggies, 28-17 (16-8, 3rd quarter; 12-9, 4th quarter) for the 29-point win. Overall, CSB, which had a 24-to-20 points in the paint edge, made 24-of-58 field goals for 41.4 percent, including 10-of-25 from three-point range for 40 percent. The Bennies reached double-digits in made threes for third time this year. CSB, which had a 41-to-34 rebound edge, had 15 assists on the 24 made baskets. CSB had 14 or more assists in a game for the fifth time in six games. In addition, the defense was solid with five steals and three blocks as they had a 24-to-12 points edge in points in turnovers.
Bennies fall at Concordia, 77-61, despite 22 from Meyer
scored a season-high 22 points, but the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (5-2, 3-1 MIAC) dropped a 77-61 road decision to Concordia-Moorhead (6-2, 5-0 MIAC) in MIAC play on Wednesday (Dec. 6). In the opening quarter, the teams traded baskets before the Cobbers scored a late basket for a 17-16 lead. After the teams were tied at 35, Concordia scored four straight points in the final minute of the second quarter to take a 39-35 advantage at halftime. The Cobbers broke open the game in the third quarter with a 26-12 advantage for a 65-47 lead. While CSB outscored Concordia, 14-12, in the fourth quarter, it was not enough as the Bennies fell in MIAC play for the first time. Meyer, who had a career-high five three-pointers in seven attempts, reached 20 points for the seventh time in her career. She made 8-of-10 field goals and had four rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes on the floor. She had her 56
th career double-digit scoring game. With 22 points, she now has 953 career points, and moved into 22
nd place all-time at CSB and past Darby Noreen (937, 2003-07). With her five triples, she is now eighth all-time at CSB with 128 three-pointers. Joining Meyer in double-digits was sophomore guard
Megan Morgan with 11 points, two steals and a block while senior forward
Lydia Hay had 10 points, a rebound and a blocked shot.
Bennies defeat Macalester, 66-58
In a 66-58 win over Macalester at home on Dec. 9,
Kira Young, who now has six career double-digit scoring games (all in 2023-24), led the way for CSB (4-1 MIAC, 6-2 overall) with 11 points and seven rebounds. In the win, CSB used balanced scoring with seven players scoring between eight and 11 points. The Bennies (who were coming off a 77-61 loss at Concordia this past Wednesday) came out a bit cold, shooting just 4-for-16 (25 percent) from the field in the first quarter - and just 1-for-8 from 3-point range. That allowed Macalester to take a 13-11 lead. But things picked up from there. Young scored all seven of her first-half points in the second quarter and CSB went 9-for-19 from the field in route to taking a 33-23 halftime lead. The Bennies finished 7-for-13 from the field in the third quarter and led 46-40. The lead grew as wide as 13 (56-43) on a layup by sophomore
Megan Morgan with 6:10 remaining. But the Scots (2-4, 4-5) did not go gently, rallying to cut the gap to just four (62-58) on a jumper by junior Katherine Norquist with 1:13 left to play.Senior
Carla Meyer finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Junior
Sophia Jonas added 10 points and six rebounds. For the third time this year, junior forward
Morgan Chmielewski tied her career best with nine points and
Megan Driste also matched her career high with eight points, including a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
CSB falls to Grinnell, 70-63 in OT
Carla Meyer (18 points) and
Sophia Jonas (15 points) sparked a late rally which fell just short as the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (6-3) dropped a 70-63 overtime decision to Grinnell (7-3) on Sunday (Dec. 10) in road non-conference play at Darby Gymnasium. Down eight points late in the fourth quarter, the Bennies closed on a 9-3 run to take a 56-54 lead before Grinnell's Sarah Booher had the game-tying basket. In overtime, Grinnell used a 14-7 scoring edge to earn the victory. CSB trailed 11-10 after the first quarter and 25-18 at halftime. The Pioneers, which once led 25-11, held a 39-33 edge through three quarters. CSB outscored Grinnell, 23-to-17 in the fourth quarter to draw even at 56 and force overtime. Meyer scored all 18 of her points in the second half. Jonas had her 39th double-digit scoring game of her career as she had 15 points, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. Junior forward
Morgan Chmielewski added eight points with a career-high seven rebounds while sophomore guard
Megan Morgan had seven points and seven rebounds.
Lydia Hay added seven points, seven rebounds, a career-high four blocks and two assists and two steals. Sophomore guard
Megan Driste supplied seven points, four rebounds, and two assists. Four players, Morgan,
Lydia Hay, Chmielewski and Meyer also totaled seven rebounds or more as the Bennies had a season-high 47 rebounds. After a slow start shooting, CSB hit 22-of-73 field goals to finish at 30.1 percent and connected on 12-of-39 from three-point range for 30.8 percent.
