ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Freshman Tatum Findley posted a career-high 15 points, and junior Megan Morgan contributed 13, but the College of Saint Benedict basketball team fell 64-53 to UW-River Falls in the championship game of the CSB Tip Off Tournament on Sunday (Nov. 10) at Claire Lynch Hall.

The Bennies, now 1-1 on the season after the loss, will next face UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 20 at Zorn Arena in Eau Claire, Wisc. On Saturday, CSB secured a 78-49 victory over Minnesota Morris. UW-River Falls improved to 2-0 with their win over Saint Benedict, following a 65-58 victory over Hamline on Saturday.

Morgan earned a spot on the CSB Tip Off Tournament All-Tournament Team after scoring 29 points over the two games.

CSB Tip Off All-Tournament Team
MVP – Olivia Hoerl, UW-River Falls  
- Zoey Buchan, UW-River Falls  
- Megan Morgan, College of Saint Benedict  
- Maddy Grove, Minnesota-Morris  
- Kate Trachsel, Hamline  

Findley led St. Ben's in scoring on Sunday, shooting 5-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point range and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. She also contributed two rebounds and two assists. Morgan reached double figures for the second consecutive game, adding 13 points, five rebounds, and one assist. She finished 4-of-11 from the floor, including one three-pointer, and went a perfect 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Senior Olivia Boily chipped in seven points and tied senior Sophia Jonas with a team-high eight rebounds. First-year Sofia Baldessari added seven points and six rebounds.

The Bennies shot just 29.5 percent (18-of-61) from the field and 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from three-point range. They were more efficient from the free-throw line, converting 65 percent (13-of-20) of their attempts. Despite the shooting woes, CSB played solid defense, forcing 14 turnovers and limiting UW-River Falls to 39.2 percent shooting (20-of-51). The Falcons, which was led by Zoey Buchan with 23 points and tournament MVP Olivia Hoerl with 18 points, also struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from three-point range.

The game was ultimately decided by key advantages in points off turnovers (17-10), points in the paint (26-22), and second-chance points (9-3) for UW-River Falls. CSB outscored the Falcons 20-7 in bench points.

The Falcons took a 14-11 lead after the first quarter, outshooting the Bennies 42.9 percent (6-of-14) to 20 percent (3-of-15). However, CSB stayed close thanks to a 5-of-8 performance from the free-throw line. In the second quarter, UW-River Falls shot 60 percent from the floor (9-of-15), including 2-of-4 from three-point range, to outscore CSB 22-12 and take a 36-23 lead tohalftime.

The Bennies came out strong in the third quarter, winning the quarter, 14-11, and trimming UW-River Falls's lead to 47-37 by the break. Despite shooting just 29.4 percent (5-of-17) in the third, CSB's defense held UW-River Falls to just 16.7 percent (2-of-12), though both of the Falcons' made field goals in the quarter were three-pointers. The Bennies, however, missed all four of their attempts from beyond the arc to hurt their chances to cut further into the lead.

The final quarter saw both teams trade baskets, but the Falcons held a 17-16 edge, ultimately securing the 64-53 win. CSB shot 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from the field in the fourth, making three of their nine three-point attempts. UW-River Falls, meanwhile, connected on 3-of-10 field goals and hit 10 free throws to maintain their lead and seal the victory.