ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict basketball team hits the road this weekend for its first tournament test away from home. The Bennies (2–1) travel to Iowa for the Cornell Classic on Nov. 15–16 at the Small Athletic and Wellness Center in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where they will face unbeaten University of Dubuque (2–0) on Saturday at 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday matchup against Nebraska Wesleyan (1–1) at 1 p.m.

 Early season recap
The Bennies made an early statement last weekend, rolling past Minnesota Morris 91–57 — their first 90-point outing since 2019 — and holding off Bethany Lutheran 51–50 to secure the Tipoff Tournament title. Sophomore guard Drew Buslee earned MVP honors for her explosive performance, highlighted by a 22-point outing in the opener and clutch play throughout the weekend.

That momentum nearly carried through into midweek play, but CSB dropped a heartbreaker at home to UW–Eau Claire, 61–60. Buslee delivered the finest game of her young career: 25 points, seven rebounds, eight steals, and three assists. Her eight steals were the most by a Bennie since 2007. Senior Kira Young (11 points, four rebounds) and senior Megan Morgan (seven points, eight boards) added balance, while sophomore Alyssa Sadlovsky chipped in eight points and three assists.

By the Numbers – Buslee leads CSB in scoring
Through three games, CSB has leaned heavily on defensive pressure, forcing 26.3 turnovers per game and generating 20 points per night off opponent mistakes. Their 44 total steals — nearly 15 per game — have fueled transition scoring and kept the Bennies competitive, even on nights when shots aren't falling.  Offensively, CSB is averaging 67.3 points while shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from deep. They've been reliable at the line (77.6 percent) and have shown early balance behind Buslee's breakout start. Buslee enters the weekend averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.0 assists. Young adds 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while Morgan contributes 9.0 points and 5.0 boards. Sophomore Lauren Arnold has provided another spark, averaging 8.0 points and 3.0 steals.

Scouting the Field: Dubuque and Nebraska Wesleyan
Dubuque (2–0) — led by first-year head coach Madeline Jansen — brings one of the tournament's most efficient offenses. The Spartans are averaging 75.5 points while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. They also hold a +5 rebounding margin and feature five players scoring in double figures.

Leading the way for Dubuque will be Christina Simonetti (14.5 points, 11.5 rebounds), Taylor Martin (14.0), and Avery Green (13.5).

Saturday's matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between CSB and Dubuque.

Nebraska Wesleyan (1–1) arrives under second-year head coach Jim Wiedie with a balanced lineup and strong posts. The Prairie Wolves average 64.0 points and allow 64.5, shooting 37.5 percent from the floor and 70.3 percent at the foul line. They are led by Brynn Sebek (16.0 points), Peyton Tritz (14.5), and Carney Black (11.0 points, 10.5 rebounds).

CSB holds a 4–0 series lead over NWU, most recently edging the Prairie Wolves 77–75 in 2018.

Durbin leads Bennies
As the Bennies take the next step into tournament play, they do so under the steady leadership of legendary head coach Mike Durbin, now in his 41st collegiate season and 40th at CSB. Durbin enters the year with a 764–273 record at Saint Benedict and 768–295 overall — ranking third all-time in Division III victories and 15th among active NCAA coaches across all divisions. His 594 MIAC wins are the most of any active coach in the conference.

What's Ahead
After the Cornell Classic, the Bennies open MIAC play Nov. 19 at St. Olaf before heading west for the Colorado College Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. CSB returns to Claire Lynch Hall on Dec. 6 for its conference home opener against Concordia.