SAINT JOSEPH, Minn. – Sophia Jonas scored 18 points, including knocking down four three-pointers, to lead the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (5-1, 1-0 MIAC) to a fourth consecutive win with a 60-42 decision over St. Olaf (5-2, 0-1 MIAC) as the MIAC schedule opened for the Bennies on Wednesday (Dec. 4).

The victory gives St. Benedict a 5-1 record and a 1-0 mark in the MIAC with another home conference game against Carleton College set for Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m., also at Claire Lynch Hall.

For Jonas, she recorded her 46^th double-digit game and now has 890 career points. The senior standout from Hudson, Wis., made 6-of-12 field goals, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. As a result, Jonas moved into sixth all-time in career threes in the MIAC. Tonight, she surpassed Mikayla Miller of Gustavus (2014-18, 204) and sits just two away from fourth all-time in made threes in conference play (Lucia Renifoff, St. Thomas, 2025-19; Ashley Luehmann, Saint Mary's, 2002-06).

"I was really pleased with our defensive effort tonight," said CSB head coach Mike Durbin, whose team limited St. Olaf to 32.1 percent shooting (18-of-56), including 2-of-15 for 13.3 percent from three-point range.

After a slow start (13-12 CSB lead after one quarter), the Bennies outscored St. Olaf, 15-10, in the second quarter and had a game-deciding 20-7 run in the third stanza to take a 48-29 lead.

"That run, energized by solid defense and the play of Sophia Jonas and Megan Driste was a key to our win," said Durbin, who recorded his 750th career win at CSB (754 overall) "It was a good solid effort for us tonight."
 
Driste set a career-high with nine points as she knocked down all three of her three-point shots and also had three rebounds and an assist. Junior guard Megan Morgan added eight points, three assists and three rebounds while first-year guard Tatum Findley had seven points and three rebounds. Senior forward Olivia Boily registered a game-high nine rebounds and also had five points and two steals in the win.

CSB, which had its biggest lead of 22 points at the 5:19 mark of the fourth quarter, hit 21-of-46 field goals for 45.7 percent and knocked in 7-of-15 three-pointers for 46.7 percent. The Bennies also converted 11-of-14 free throws and matched the Oles with 33 rebounds each.

In the opening quarter, CSB, which hit 4-of-12 field goals for 33.3 percent, had a 13-12 lead in part due to its 4-of-4 effort at the foul line. After the Oles grabbed an 8-5 lead, Jonas tied the game with a three and then Morgan and Findley converted drives to the basket for the one-point advantage.

CSB began taking control in the second quarter by using an 11-6 run to close the half for a 28-22 halftime lead. The Bennies made 5-of-10 field goals for 50 percent and that effort include converting all three of its triples. Defensively, they held St. Olaf to 5-of-16 shooting for 31.3 percent.

With a 20-7 run in the third quarter, including a 9-2 advantage in the opening five minutes, the Bennies took a 48-29 lead to the break. In the stanza, CSB shot a game-high 53.8 percent.  
 
Baskets by Jonas and Morgan pushed CSB's lead to 52-31 early in the fourth quarter. St. Olaf, which had a four-game winning streak snapped in the loss, couldn't sustain a run against the Bennies. While the Oles secured a 13-12 edge overall in the quarter, it was not enough. CSB fended off rallies with a 45.5 percent effort on 5-of-11 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers.