ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Saint Benedict basketball trailed Hamline for 33 minutes and cut the deficit to three points late in the fourth quarter but couldn't complete the comeback in a 65-60 loss to the Pipers on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Claire Lynch Hall.

Saint Ben's trailed by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter, but scored 11 points off turnovers, seven on fast breaks and five off offensive rebounds to get within three of the Pipers, 62-59, with 46 seconds on the clock. HU was in the bonus and shot wide on 3 of 6 from the line, but the Bennies missed all three of their final attempts from the floor as time ran out.

CSB (9-4, 4-2 MIAC) jumped out to an early lead, holding Hamline scoreless through the first three minutes of play. Once the Pipers (10-3, 4-2 MIAC) found their groove, though, they missed just one shot in a 15-4 run to take an 18-9 lead over the home team. Saint Benedict was 2-for-7 in that stretch with three turnovers. Sophomore guard Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) drove to the hoop for a layup to help the Bennies get back on track and scored all seven points in a 7-2 stretch to end the first frame with CSB trailing 20-16.

Six different Pipers scored points and HU out-rebounded the Bennies 11-6 to take their largest lead of the game at 37-23 in quarter two. Senior wing Megan Morgan (Winona, Minn./Cotter) hit a three and senior post Kira Young (Hudson, Wis.) sent both teams to halftime with a jumper for a 37-28 score at the break.

Shooting went cold in the third quarter, with the two teams combining to go 4 of 29 (13.7 percent) from the floor. Senior wing Megan Driste (Sartell, Minn.) made the Bennies' lone shot – a three-pointer – to bring CSB within single digits, and HU missed all their shots from long range after starting the game at 75 percent (6 of 8) from beyond the arc.

Saint Benedict began the full court press after starting the final quarter down 12, 47-35. The Bennies out-scored Hamline 25-20 in the final frame, as Morgan grabbed three steals and added eight points, but the Pipers' senior guard Camille Cummings drew four fouls and missed just one shot to keep her team in the game with 11 fourth quarter points.

Buslee (4-for-13) and Morgan (3-for-13) each finished with 13 points to lead CSB, while Young (4-for-11) added 10. Young grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and Morgan, Buslee and sophomore guard Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.) each dished out three assists apiece. Three different Bennies had three steals – Morgan, Buslee and Driste – to contribute to a team total of 12. 

Cummings led all scorers with 16 points on 4 of 10 shooting and seven points from the free throw line. 

The Bennies play host to St. Catherine (6-7, 1-5 MIAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph.