ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With three wins in four games, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (5-2, 3-1 MIAC) will host Macalester (4-4, 2-3 MIAC) on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m., at Claire Lynch Hall. Then, on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m., the Bennies will face Grinnell (6-3) on the road in non-conference play.

The Bennies will face off with the Scots after dropping a 77-61 decision at Concordia, which leads the MIAC with a 5-0 record. CSB, which defeated Augsburg, 67-38, on the road Monday, sit in fourth place with a 3-1 record. Macalester is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in league play after losing to Gustavus Adolphus, 70-39, on Dec. 6 and Bethel, 61-44, on Dec. 4. The Scots' last win was a 60-57 decision of St. Scholastica on Dec. 2.
 
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. Then, 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.

Macalester Notes
Directed by fourth-year head coach Katie Kollar, Macalester is averaging 56.6 points per game for ninth in the MIAC. Kollar, originally of Johnstown, N.Y., played collegiately at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y., including serving as a team captain. A year ago, Macalester finished 7-18 overall and 6-16 in the MIAC. Through eight games in 2023-24, the Scots allow just 61.1 points per game for fifth in the MIAC. Individually, Peyton Starks leads the Scots and the MIAC in scoring at 17.5 points per game. She is sixth in the MIAC in rebounding with 4.3 per game. Also, for the Scots, Katherine Norquist averages 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Macalester – CSB Series
In the all-time series between CSB and Macalester, the Bennies own an 63-8 series edge. The Bennies have a 34-1 mark against the Scots at home and sit 61-7 in MIAC play. At Macalester, CSB has a 29-7 margin. In the first match-up between the schools, CSB took a 77-46 decision on Jan. 7, 1982. The Bennies have won eight of the last 10 match ups and once had a 27-game winning streak from Jan. 27, 1996, to Jan. 5, 2011. In the most recent match up on Feb. 15, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn., CSB dropped a 63-60 decision. Carla Meyer led CSB with 12 points and 14 rebounds while Sophia Jonas added 13.
 
Grinnell Notes
Through nine games, Grinnell is 6-3 overall with a 3-1 record in conference play. Veteran head coach Dana Harrold leads the Pioneers, which play in the Midwest Conference. Harrold, a native of Jesup, Iowa, took over the program in 2013. She played collegiately at Dubuque, earning three-time All-Iowa Conference honors, serving as team captain and was twice the school's Female Athlete of the Year. The Pioneers have won five of six games, including a 72-65 decision against Cornell College on Dec. 6. Erin Lillis leads the team with 18.8 points while Sara Booher has supplied 12.4 points per game and a team-best 10.0 rebounds. Eva Carchidi has a team-high 17 three-pointers as she averages 6.6 points per game.
 
Grinnell-CSB Series
Grinnell and Saint Benedict will play on Sunday for the first time in program history.
 
Inside the numbers – CSB ranks 13^th in DIII in made three-pointers
As a team, CSB is ranked second in the MIAC by averaging 71.9 points per game. The Bennies, which rank second in the MIAC and ninth in NCAA DIII with a 46.3 field goal percentage, have a 9.0 margin of victory for fourth in the MIAC. The Bennies rank first in the MIAC (15th in DIII) in three-point field goal percentage at 36.7 percent (55-of-157) and with 8.1 threes per game is first in the MIAC and eighth in DIII. Saint Benedict is second in the MIAC in assists per game at 15.86. In assist-turnover ratio, CSB is first in the MIAC and 21st in NCAA DIII at 1.14. 
 
Individual Numbers by conference/DIII
With 17.8 points per game, junior standout Sophia Jonas, is ranked first in the MIAC and 10th in NCAA DIII with 24 triples on 57 attempts and her 4.00 triples per game is second in NCAA DIII. Senior Carla Meyer ranks second in the MIAC with 4.0 assists per game. 
 
Player Notes – Jonas ranks 4^th on CSB's 3-point career chart
Sophia Jonas, who was named the CSB Invite Tournament MVP, is averaging 16.6 points per game for third in the MIAC. She has earned MIAC Offensive Basketball Player of the Week twice Nov. 13, and Nov. 20. She is one of two players in CSB history (Laura Wendorff) to earn the MIAC weekly honor four times. Jonas now has 155 career threes and is fourth on CSB's all-time list. Jonas, who has her 155 threes in just 59 games, is 12 back of Darby Noreen at 167 in 102 games from 2003-07; 28 behind Michelle Barlau at 180 in 105 games from 1999-03 and 34 from the all-time leader Ashley Brown, who had 186 in 107 games from 2000-04. Thirty-one times, including six of seven 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 37 career double-digit scoring games, has 665 career points, and 127 rebounds with 84 assists in her career. Jonas, who has made 43-of-90 field goals for 47.8 percent (9th, MIAC) and 27-of-63 from three-point range for 42.9 percent (2nd, MIAC, 56^th, DIII), has made six triples in a game three times in her career, including twice in 2023-24 (UW-River Falls, Minnesota Morris).
 
Senior guard Carla Meyer, who is averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, has 56 double digit scoring games, including six in 2023-24. In her career Meyer has three career double-doubles. With 13 three-pointers this season, she now has 128 in her career for eighth all-time at CSB. Meyer 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 moved to 952 career points and just 48 from 1,000. Meyer ranks second all-time in 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 235 and just 16 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 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, set a career high in points with 19 and five rebounds in 67-38 road win at Augsburg on Dec. 2. Five 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 and 19 against Augsburg.
 
Sophomore guard Megan Morgan is averaging 8.7 points per game while also totaling 16 assists (3.9 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 of the past four games with her season-high of 11 against Concordia-Moorhead on Dec. 6. She has scored eight or more points ten times. Morgan has 164 career points, 40 assists and 12 made threes in her career.
  
Senior forward, Lydia Hay is averaging 9.6 points and 3.4 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 371 points and 219 rebounds in her career at CSB and 386 points and 222 rebounds overall (seven games at MSU-Moorhead, 2020-21). The average points per game by Hay is the best of her three-years at CSB. She had a season-best average of 4.2 rebounds in 2021-22.
 
Megan Driste, a sophomore guard, who is averaging 4.1 points per game, set a career-high with eight points against Northwestern (St. Paul) on 11/11/23. In that same game she established career-bests with six rebounds, three assists and two steals as well as two made three-pointers. Driste is 10-of-21 from the field for 47.6 percent. She has made 6-of-17 triples for 35.3 percent. In her career, Driste has hit 7-of-24 from three-point range, scored 40 points and grabbed 23 rebounds.
  
Morgan Chmielewski, a junior forward, is averaging 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds a game and has recorded a career-high in points twice this year against UW-River Falls on 11/16/23 and Saint Mary's on 11/23/23. Three times this year, Chmielewski also hit a career high in rebounds with five against Saint Mary's on Nov. 29, 2023, Hamline, 12/2/23; and Augsburg, 12/4/23.
 
CSB Head Coach Mike Durbin has 739 career wins
Veteran head coach Mike Durbin is in 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 739-275 (.728) overall coaching record and a 735-253 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 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 574-182 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 up 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 en 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 also 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.