ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — With the momentum of five wins in its last six games, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team (11-4, 6-2 MIAC) returns to conference play Wednesday, Jan. 20, when it hosts (RV) Bethel (11-4, 6-2 MIAC). Tip-off between the Bennies and the Royals is set for 7 p.m. inside Claire Lynch Hall.

Saint Benedict enters the matchup tied for second place in the MIAC alongside Bethel, Saint Mary's (12-3, 6-2 MIAC), St. Scholastica (11-4, 6-2 MIAC) and Hamline (12-3, 6-2 MIAC). Concordia sits alone atop the standings at 13-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. After playing Bethel, CSB will face Saint Mary's 1 p.m.,, on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m., in Winona, Minn.

Season Review
The 2025–26 season opened emphatically for the Bennies with a 91–57 victory over Minnesota Morris on Nov. 7 — the program's first 90-point performance since 2019. One night later, CSB captured the CSB Tipoff Tournament title with a dramatic 51–50 win over Bethany Lutheran.

Sophomore guard Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) made an immediate impact, scoring 22 points in the opener and earning tournament MVP honors. She followed with one of the most complete performances in program history on Nov. 12, totaling 25 points, seven rebounds, eight steals and three assists in a narrow 61–60 loss to UW–Eau Claire. Her eight steals marked the most by a Bennie since 2007 — a feat she later matched against Colorado College.

Saint Benedict rebounded from that loss by winning four of its next five games, beginning with a dominant 75–42 victory over Dubuque on Nov. 15. The Bennies forced 32 turnovers and converted them into a 37–7 edge in points off turnovers. Fourteen players scored, led by Buslee's 16 points and five steals.

Defensive pressure again fueled an 86–57 win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Nov. 16. Morgan posted a season-high 18 points, while senior guard Megan Driste (Sartell, Minn.) delivered a career-best performance with 17 points, five assists, four three-pointers and three steals.

Conference play opened with a 59–53 road win at St. Olaf on Nov. 19. Morgan led with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.) sealed the win at the free-throw line.  At the Colorado College Fall Classic, Buslee powered CSB to a 51–48 win over the host Tigers on Nov. 28 with 22 points and eight steals — her third 20-point game of the season. The Bennies closed the tournament with a 66–57 loss to Whitman College despite 15 points and six steals from Buslee.

After losses to Concordia (Dec. 6) and Whitman (Nov. 29), Saint Benedict responded with one of its most notable victories of the season — a 67–45 win over Gustavus Adolphus on Dec. 10. Morgan poured in 21 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while adding nine rebounds and three steals. The win snapped a long drought against the Gusties and marked CSB's first home victory in the series since 2018.

January opened with a 78–70 win over Augsburg on Jan. 3, the Bennies' seventh straight victory in the series. Morgan narrowly missed a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high eight assists, while Arnold posted a career-best 19 points. CSB followed with a 72–57 road win at Macalester on Jan. 7, led by Morgan's 19 points. First-year Emma Theisen added a career-high 13 points and eight rebounds.

After a 65–60 loss to Hamline on Jan. 10, Saint Benedict bounced back with a 60–50 home win over St. Catherine. Young led the way with 19 points, while Buslee added 10 points and four assists. The Bennies then moved into second place in the MIAC with a 70–57 win over Carleton, highlighted by Arnold's career-high 25 points, Alyssa Sadlovsky's (Pierz, Minn.) career-best 13 points, and Young's second career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

By the Numbers: Defense Drives Success
Defense has defined the Bennies' success this season. CSB leads the MIAC in turnover margin at +8.20, ranking 15th in Division III. St. Ben's forces a league-best 21.53 turnovers per game while committing just 13.3 — also best in the MIAC and 16th nationally. CSB averages 11.7 steals per game, second in the conference.

Saint Benedict ranks fourth in the MIAC in both scoring offense (66.7 points per game) and scoring defense (57.0 points per game), holding nine opponents under 60 points. CSB is also among the top free-throw shooting teams in Division III, connecting at a 76.3 percent clip while averaging 16.53 made free throws per game — seventh nationally and first in the MIAC.

Individually, Buslee leads the Bennies at 13.4 points per game and has knocked down a team-high 28 three-pointers. She also leads the MIAC with 47 steals, ranking 45th nationally, and averages 3.13 steals per game — first in the league and 42nd in Division III.

Arnold contributes 11.6 points and 1.8 steals per game and leads the MIAC — and ranks second nationally — in free-throw shooting at 92.5 percent (37-of-40). Young, the current The House/St. Cloud Orthopedics CSB Athlete of the Week, is averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, with five straight double-figure scoring outings and 29 in her career.

Scouting Bethel
Bethel is directed by head coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer, now in his 24th season, owning a 332–235 career record. The Royals enter the game 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the MIAC. Emily Erickson leads Bethel with 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 58.2 percent from the field. Elly Schmitz adds 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest.

Series Notes
Saint Benedict holds a 54–33 advantage in the all-time series, including a 29–14 edge in home games. The Bennies earned a 79–50 victory in the most recent meeting on Feb. 27 in the MIAC Tournament semifinals. The series dates back to Dec. 12, 1981.

Coach Durbin has 777 wins
Head coach Mike Durbin continues to build one of the most distinguished résumés in Division III history. In his 41st collegiate season and 40th at Saint Benedict, Durbin owns 773 wins at CSB and 777 overall — ranking third all-time in Division III and standing as the MIAC's active leader in conference victories.