MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – 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).

With the victory, CSB is 5-1 overall and 3-0 and just a half-game behind Concordia (5-2 overall) at 4-0 for first place in the MIAC.

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.

"It was a fun night, but we did not particularly play well offensively. However, we had a great effort on defense," said CSB head coach Mike Durbin, who earned his 738^th career win. "And it was nice to rest some of our starters and get some younger players some good minutes," added Durbin, whose team will travel to MIAC leader Concordia-Moorhead for a 5:45 p.m., game on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Young recorded a career-high with 19 points as she had double-digits for a fifth straight game. She hit 7-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. Young, who made 3-of-6 free throws, grabbed five rebounds, dished an assist, and recorded a block. Meyer, who was named the MIAC Offensive Basketball Player of the Week earlier on Monday, had 11 points while recording her 55^th career double-digit scoring game. Meyer, who has 931 career points, hit 2-of-2 from three-point range and has 122 three-pointers in her career (9^th all-time at CSB). She had a team-high six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Junior Sophia Jonas added eight points along with a rebound, assist and a steal. She made 2-of-5 three-point shots as she moved into fourth all-time at CSB in made three-pointers with 152, moving past Amy Stifter (2007-11, 109 games).  Senior forward Lydia Hay supplied seven points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Three first-year players scored points for the first time in their career, including Kristen Hilbert, who had five points, Cora Beeler and Mia Rogholt, who each scored their first career field goals.

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.

First Quarter Summary – Young leads Bennies to 17-13 lead
In the opening quarter, CSB hit 6-of-14 field goals for 42.9 percent, including 4-of-7 three-pointers, to grab a 17-13 lead over the Auggies. After back-to-back three-pointers by Young and Meyer, the Bennies grabbed a 15-11 lead. In the opening seven minutes, CSB hit 4-of-6 threes (Jonas, Young, Meyer and Morgan) and 5-of-10 field goals. Then, Young's third basket of the quarter (eight points) gave CSB a 17-11 lead. CSB was led by Young with eight points and three rebounds.

Second Quarter Summary – Meyer helps Bennies extend advantage to 39-21 at half
Using a 22-to-8 scoring edge, the Bennies extended their lead over the Auggies to 39-21 at halftime. CSB hit 8-of-19 field goals for 42.1 percent, including 4-of-10 from three-point range and 2-of-2 at the foul line, for the advantage. The Bennies, who were led by 13 points from Young, had a 21-to-16 rebound edge and had 10 assists on 14 baskets in the first half. In the half, CSB was 14-of-33 from the field (42.4 percent) and made 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from three-point distance. A jumper by Jonas and Meyer's three-pointer gave the Bennies a 25-15 advantage (7:53). At 5:45 of the second quarter, Young reached double digits by hitting her second triple of the game and a 28-17 lead. She added a pair of free throws for a 30-20 lead (4:52). Hay converted a pair of lay-up 34 seconds apart (2:50, 2:16) for a 34-21 lead.  Morgan Chmielewski, who had five rebounds in the half, added a lay-up (1:07) before Meyer's second three of the half with seven seconds gave CSB a 39-21 advantage.

3^rd Quarter Summary – With 16-to-8 edge, CSB extends margin to 26
With a 16-8 scoring edge in the third quarter, CSB extended their margin to 55-29. CSB was 5-of-12 for 41.7 percent from the field, hitting a three and 5-of-6 free throws. After a 2:59 scoring drought to open the quarter, Jonas hit a three, her second of the game, as CSB took a 42-23 lead. A basket from Hay gave CSB a 44-23 lead with six minutes to play. When Cora Beeler scored inside at 1:24, CSB's lead grew to 52-29.  It was Beeler's first career field goal. With 57 seconds left the Bennies had 1-of-2 foul shots from sophomore guard Megan Driste for a 53-29 advantage and then added a floating jumper from Young in the final seconds for the 55-29 lead.

4^th Quarter Summary – Rogholt, Hilbert and Beeler record first career points
With the first-career points from Hilbert (five points), and Rogholt (two points), CSB had a 12-to-9 scoring edge in the quarter. CSB was 5-of-13 from the field for 38.5 percent, with Hilbert's career-best five points leading the way. Young's jumper (6:20) broke a 3:40 drought to open the quarter as the Bennies had a 57-29 lead. With 5:10 left, Driste's three-pointer gave CSB a 60-31 lead. Kristen Hilbert recorded her first career basket and points for a 62-33 lead and then Rogholt did the same as CSB led, 64-33.