SAINT PETER, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (15-8, 10-6 MIAC) mounted a strong comeback, cutting an 18-point deficit to just four in the fourth quarter, but fell short against No. 8 Gustavus (22-1, 15-1 MIAC) at Gus Young Court on Saturday, Feb. 15.

With the loss, St. Benedict holds a 15-8 overall record and remains in fourth place in the MIAC at 10-6. Gustavus, now 22-1 overall and 15-1 in conference play, is tied for the MIAC lead with Bethel.

Senior forward Olivia Boily led the Bennies with 13 points, two rebounds, and a steal. Boily, who recorded her 15th career double-digit scoring game, finished 5-of-11 from the field and was perfect from the foul line, going 3-of-3. First-year guard Lauren Arnold added 12 points, three rebounds, and an assist. Arnold shot 5-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, marking her 10th double-digit scoring game and seventh consecutive. Junior guard Megan Morgan contributed 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists, bringing her career total of double-digit scoring games to 27. Additionally, Sophia Jonas scored seven points, including her 257th career three-pointer, while Megan Driste chipped in six points and three rebounds.

A key factor in the game was shooting percentages. Gustavus shot an impressive 68% in the first half and finished at 51.8% for the game, making 29 of 56 shots, including 6-of-14 from three-point range. The Bennies shot 40.7% on 22-of-54 shooting, and were 28.6% from three-point range, making 6-of-21. However, CSB's 12-of-14 free throw shooting (85.7%) helped fuel their second-half rally.

Gustavus received standout performances from Emma Kneifel, who scored 26 points, and Kylie Baranick, who added 22. The Gusties also dominated points in the paint, outscoring the Bennies 30-22, and held a 9-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

After Gustavus took a 40-25 lead at halftime, thanks to their hot shooting, the Bennies came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Gusties 37-33. Saint Benedict cut the deficit to just four points, but could not close the gap any further. CSB shot 12-of-28 in the second half, including 4-of-12 from three-point range and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

In the fourth quarter, the Bennies went on a 17-10 run to make it a 66-62 game following a three-pointer by Jonas, but they were unable to pull even closer.
Next up for the Bennies is a home game against Augsburg on Wednesday, Feb. 19, which will be Senior Night and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.