ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- Sophomore guard Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.) delivered once again when it mattered most, scoring 15 points and sinking a pair of game-clinching free throws in the final seconds to lift the College of Saint Benedict basketball team past Carleton, 65-61, in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday at Claire Lynch Hall.

With the win, the Bennies improved to 13-8 overall and 8-6 in MIAC play, holding off a determined Carleton squad that was led by a game-high 30 points from Addy Huss.

Arnold, who entered the day leading NCAA Division III in free-throw percentage, calmly knocked down both attempts with 8.8 seconds remaining to extend CSB's lead to four. She finished 6-of-11 from the field and scored in double figures for the fifth straight game.

Saint Benedict balanced its scoring behind Arnold. Sophomore guard Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) added 12 points and three steals, while senior guard Megan Driste (Sartell, Minn.) chipped in 12 points, highlighted by four three-pointers. Senior forward Kira Young (Hudson, Wis.) contributed 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Emma Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Alyssa Sadlovsky (Pierz, Minn.) added eight points and four steals off the bench.

Defense fueled the Bennies throughout the afternoon. CSB forced 20 turnovers and finished with 14 steals, turning those miscues into a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers. The Bennies shot 39.3 percent from the field (24-of-61), went 9-of-30 from three-point range, and connected on 8-of-10 free throws.

Carleton shot 44.9 percent overall (22-of-49) but managed just 5-of-18 from beyond the arc and could not overcome CSB's pressure late.

The Bennies led 14-12 after the first quarter, but Carleton seized momentum in the second. After CSB pushed its lead to 22-14 on a Buslee driving layup, the Knights answered with a decisive 20-5 run to close the half, taking a 34-27 advantage into the locker room.

Carleton extended its lead to 37-27 early in the third quarter before Saint Benedict mounted its comeback. Sparked by steals and transition baskets, CSB used a 25-16 third-quarter surge to reclaim the lead. Driste drilled consecutive three-pointers late in the period, including one with 40 seconds remaining, to give the Bennies a 52-50 edge heading into the fourth.

Saint Benedict carried that momentum into the final quarter. Arnold opened the scoring with a jumper, and Driste later buried her third straight three-pointer to make it 59-52 with 6:53 to play. Sadlovsky's three pushed the lead to 63-57, but Carleton closed within two before Arnold iced the game at the free-throw line.

The Bennies outscored the Knights 13-11 in the fourth quarter, closing out the four-point MIAC victory on their home floor.