ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (2-1) will travel to compete in the Gunderson Hotel & Suites Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by UW-LaCrosse, on Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The Bennies will face Simpson College at 4 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 30 before playing host UW-LaCrosse at 4 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Following the two nonconference matchups, CSB returns home to host St. Olaf on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Claire Lynch Hall and open the MIAC schedule.

Quick Preview for St. Ben's
Through three games this season, the Bennies sit 2-1 as they face a pair of nonconference foes this weekend.

With a 48-25 run in the second half, the CSB basketball team overcame a 21-point deficit to earn a 69-63 road win over UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 20. Leading the way was junior guard Megan Morgan with 15 points and junior Kira Young who added 10. Both senior Sophia Jonas and first-year Tatum Findley each scored nine points and tied for a team-high with eight rebounds. After missing its first 17 shots, the Bennies hit 23 of its final 47 shots to finish at 35.9 percent shooting for the game. For the second time in three games, CSB hit double-digit three-pointers, knocking in 10-of-30 for 33.3 percent. CSB, which was outrebounded, 49-to-35, used another strong defensive effort to force 17 turnovers and gain a 17-to-6 margin in points off turnovers. After trailing 21-6 after a quarter of play, CSB outscored the Blugolds, 63-to-42, to gain the win. 

Saint Benedict split two games at its own CSB Tip-Off Tournament to open the season on Nov. 9-10. St. Ben's recorded a 78-49 win over Minnesota-Morris as Morgan scored 16 points and Jonas had 14. The Bennies hit 14 3s in the game which was the first of two games at CSB's Tip-off Tournament. In the second game, CSB took a 64-53 setback to UW-River Falls, despite 15 points from Findley while Morgan had 13 points. Morgan was  named to the CSB Tip-off All-Tourney Team.

Series – How CSB stands against Simpson, UW-LaCrosse
The Bennies will face Simpson for the fifth time when they meet on Saturday. In the last matchup, Simpson recorded a 84-80 overtime win on Nov. 17, 2018, at St. Joseph, Minn. CSB is 1-1 at home and 1-1 on the road against Simpson. In the first-ever matchup, CSB won an 80-63 decision on March 2, 2005, which was a first round game in the NCAA DIII Tournament and held at Claire Lynch Hall.

CSB will face UW-LaCrosse for the third time in school history with the Bennies owning a 2-0 series lead. CSB recorded a 50-49 win over UW-LaCrosse on Nov. 18, 2017, as Chelsey Guetter scored 13 points and Niki Fokken had 11.  In the first matchup on Dec. 27, 1996, in St. Joseph, the Bennies recorded an 81-58 win.

Inside Look at Simpson College 
Head coach Brian Niemuth is in his 38^th season with 682 career wins with the Storm. He has led Simpson to 413 conference wins and 13 league titles. This season, Niemuth has directed Simpson to a 3-2 record, including wins in each of its past two games over Central College, 95-87 and North Central (Minn.), 84-44. The Storm is averaging 79.4 points while hitting 46 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three-point range. They also grab 32.4 rebounds and dish 14.8 assists per game. Molly Lutmer leads the team with 17.4 points per game and has hit 49.3 percent from the floor and 41.9 percent from three-point range. She also provides 3.6 rebounds.  Haley Rasmussen is scoring 15.8 points and grabbing 2.2 rebounds per game. game. Ella Anderson is adding 9.6 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game.

UW-LaCrosse – Inside the Numbers
Head Coach Moran Lonning is in her second season at UW-LaCrosse. A year ago, the Eagles finished 13-14 overall and 5-9 in the WIAC. This season, UW-LaCrosse is 4-2, including 2-0 at home. In its last game, the Eagles had a four-game winning streak end in a 68-65 loss to No. 19 Hope College. They have a win over Bethel, 73-57, and a three-point loss (52-49) to No. 11 Gustavus Adolphus. Overall, the Eagles averaged 75.3 points while allowing 62.7 points per game. They have hit 44.5 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range while totaling 48.2 rebounds per game. This season, Lauryn Milne is leading the team with 14.8 points and grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game with a blistering 9-of-13 from three-point range. Grace Knupp is scoring 9.2 points with 3.3 rebounds while Malia Nelson has provided 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Bennies – By the Numbers
A year ago, CSB was 15-11 with a 12-8 MIAC record, earning a berth in the MIAC playoff semifinals for a second straight year. The Bennies are led by veteran head coach Mike Durbin, who has a 751-285 overall record (.725) and has 747 wins at St. Ben's. He ranks 15^th for coaching wins among all active coaches regardless of NCAA division and has the most victories by an active DIII coach.

Through three games, St. Benedict has a 66.7-to-58.7 points per game advantage over its opponents. The Bennies are hitting 37.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. On the glass, opponents have a 41.7-to-32.3 rebound edge. CSB is averaging 10.0 turnovers but forcing 16.7 per game, which has allowed CSB to gain a 14.0-to-11.0 points off turnovers advantage.

CSB is led by Morgan, a junior guard who is averaging 14.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. In her career, she now has 406 points, including 246 a year ago when she averaged 9.5 points. She registered a career-high 26 points against St. Catherine on Feb. 17, 2024. She is hitting .44.1 percent from the field and has made 47 threes on 35.6 percent shooting for her career. This year Morgan has made 8-of-19 for 42.1 percent from three-point range.

First-year Tatum Findley is scoring 11.0 points with 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Findley has hit 50 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three-point range.

In her first game this season, Kira Young scored 10 points and hit 3.5 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. She is hitting 42.1 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from the three-point line with 277 career points.

The Bennies also receive 9.0 points per game from both senior Sophia Jonas, who is providing 6.0 rebounds per game, with 4.7 assists per game. Jonas, who is the career leader at CSB with 197 triples on 558 attempts for a 35.3 percent mark, is also the all-time leader for threes in a season with 84 in 2022-23, which is also a MIAC mark.  She has started 68 games and hit 294 career field goals with 69 free throws for 854 career points. She also has 191 rebounds and 136 assists.

First-year Sofia Baldessari, who is also grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game, has scored eight points per game. Senior Olivia Boily is averaging 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds this season. In her career, she has 324 points and 243 rebounds.