ST. PAUL, Minn. —
Megan Morgan (Winona, Minn.) poured in 19 points and added seven assists and five rebounds to lead the College of Saint Benedict basketball team to its third consecutive victory, a 72-57 MIAC road win over Macalester on Wednesday (Jan. 7) at the Leonard Center.
The Bennies improved to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in MIAC play, moving into a tie for second place in the conference with Bethel and Saint Mary's. Macalester fell to 1-10 overall and 0-5 in league action.
Morgan was one of five CSB players to score in double figures, marking the first time the Bennies accomplished that feat since an 84-53 win over St. Scholastica on Feb. 5, 2025. She was perfect from the free-throw line, going 10-for-10, and knocked down three 3-pointers as CSB finished 10-of-31 from beyond the arc. The Bennies also continued their efficiency at the line, hitting 16-of-17 free throws (94.1 percent), while shooting 23-of-75 (30.7 percent) from the field.
First-year
Emma Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-2 from three-point range. Senior
Kira Young (Hudson, Wis.) also scored 13 points, added five rebounds and connected on a triple. Sophomores
Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.) and
Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) each finished with 11 points. Arnold added three assists and a career-high six steals, while Buslee grabbed four rebounds and recorded four steals for the fifth time this season. Together, Arnold and Buslee helped CSB tie a season high with 18 steals.
Defense again proved to be a strength for the Bennies, who forced 28 turnovers and converted them into 31 points. Macalester held a 34-24 edge in points in the paint and a 14-5 advantage in second-chance points, while the teams finished even on the glass with 40 rebounds apiece.
Macalester jumped out to a fast start, making its first six shots to take a 16-10 lead in the opening quarter. The Scots shot 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) in the period, while CSB struggled offensively, hitting just 3-of-21 shots (14.3 percent).
St. Benedict responded in the second quarter, using a 22-13 run to take a 32-29 lead into halftime. Morgan scored 10 points in the quarter, and Arnold added seven as CSB shot 7-of-18 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point range. CSB closed the half on a 17-7 run after trailing 22-15, taking its first lead at 27-24.
CSB extended its advantage in the third quarter, outscoring Macalester, 16-14, despite shooting just 4-of-21 from the floor. The Bennies made all eight of their free throws in the period to maintain a 48-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
An 8-0 run to open the final quarter, highlighted by a pair of Buslee 3-pointers, pushed the CSB lead to 56-43. After the Scots closed within 56-50, the Bennies answered with a lay-up from Theisen, a 3-pointer by Young and a jumper from Arnold to regain control. CSB outscored Macalester, 24-14, in the fourth quarter, shooting a game-best 9-of-15 (60 percent) from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Bennies return home to host Hamline on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall.
