ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Sophomore guard Megan Morgan scored 17 points to lead three players in double digits, but the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (12-8, 10-6 MIAC) dropped an 81-66 decision to Concordia (15-4, 14-2 MIAC) on Monday (Feb. 5) at Claire Lynch Hall.

The loss by CSB, which travels to St. Olaf for a road MIAC game on Wednesday, Feb. 7, broke a three-game winning streak as the Bennies now sit 10-6 in the MIAC while falling to 12-8 overall. Concordia remained in second place in the league standings with the win, its fifth straight in the series. The Cobbers improved to 13-2 in the MIAC and 15-4 overall.

On the night, Morgan had a career-high with five three-pointers in nine attempts and made 6-of-12 shots overall for 17 points and her 11^th career double-digit scoring game. She also had seven rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. The Bennies also had 12 points, four rebounds and an assist from senior forward Lydia Hay, who was named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Week earlier today. She now has 21 career double-digit scoring games. In addition, senior guard Carla Meyer had 11 points in her 67^th career-double-digit scoring game. She supplied a team-best nine rebounds, and five assists while knocking down a three-pointer, the 148^th of her career (6^th, all-time at CSB). Meyer now has 1,130 career points and moved past Molly Mark, who had 1,120 from 1996-00 for 12^th all-time at Saint Benedict.

Concordia, which had five players in double-digits, was led by Makayla Anderson, who had a double double of 16 points and 12 rebounds as the Cobbers swept the series with Saint Benedict. Key to the win for the Cobbers was its ability to take advantage of turnovers, which included a 21-to-9 margin in points off turnovers. With the inside play of Anderson and Greta Tollefson, who had 14 points, the Cobbers won the battle in the paint to a tune of 40-to-22.

The Bennies were hurt by a 34.4 percent shooting percentage as they made just 22-of-64 field goals. However, they were able to use its long-range artistry to stay close or make runs at the Cobbers. CSB was 11-of-30 from three-point range for 36.7 percent. While CSB struggled shooting, Concordia inside game enable them to make 32-of-67 from the field for 47.8 percent and hit 7-of-19 from three-point range for 36.8 percent. They also had a 42-to-37 edge in rebounds and a 17-to-13 margin in assists.

The Cobbers led just 16-15 after one quarter but with a 21-to-16 advantage in the second stanza, took a 37-31 lead to halftime. In the third quarter, the Cobbers outscored CSB, 21-to-12, as they grew the margin to 58-43. Both teams scored 23 points in the fourth quarter as Saint Benedict closed within 10 at 70-to-60 before Concordia ended the game on a 11-to-6 run to grab the win.

Game Summary                                                                                                                                       
Long-distance shooting in the opening quarter helped the Bennies stick close and trail just, 16-15, at the break. Junior guard Sophia Jonas hit a three, the 183^rd of her career, and Morgan knocked in two straight for a 10-9 lead at the 5:47 mark of first quarter. Morgan's third three of the quarter at 3:30 gave CSB a 13-11 advantage before the Cobbers closed on a 5-2 run for the lead. The Bennies converted 4-of-12 from distance in the quarter but made just 5-of-19 for 26.3 percent from the field. Concordia hit 42.9 percent of its field goals on 6-of-14 shooting.

In the second stanza, the Cobbers outscored the Bennies, 21-16, with 47.4 percent shooting from the floor on 9-of-19 conversions. They also hit 3-of-5 from three-point range while CSB was at just 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from the field but made 3-of-6 from three-point range. After Concordia had a 5-0 run for a 21-17 lead, CSB answered with a three-point play from Hay to draw within 21-20. But the Cobbers used a 9-0 run for a 30-20 lead before Morgan found the range from three-point range to cut the lead to 30-23 at 4:27. After Concordia took a 34-23 lead, Megan Driste and Morgan Ebel both had threes to key a 6-0 run as the Bennies closed to 34-29.

Carlee Sieben, who had 10 points, had a lay-up and Jordan Kahler hit a three as the Cobbers pushed the lead to 44-31 at 7:38 of the third quarter. A three from Meyer and a drive and score by Morgan reduced CSB's deficit to 46-38 at the 4:40 mark. Anderson's three-point play helped key a 10-0 run and a 56-38 advantage. Then, CSB answered with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit back to 15 at 58-43 at the break. In the quarter, CSB was hurt by 3-of-13 shooting from the field for 23.1 percent. Concordia made 9-of-19 field goals for 47.4 percent and a pair of triples to take the double-digit lead.

In the fourth quarter the Bennies had a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 58-47 with nine minutes to play. A three from Sieben increased Concordia's advantage to 62-47 before CSB had a 13-8 run, which included a three from Kira Young, a second three of the game by Driste, a lane jumper from Hay and Morgan's career-best fifth three-pointer to draw within 70-60 at the 4:50 mark. Once again Concordia, which was 8-of-15 from the field for 53.3 percent in the fourth quarter, had the answer with seven straight points and a 77-60 lead.