ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - With the regular season winding down, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team continues on its home-stand by hosting Macalester at 7 p.m., on Wednesday on Feb. 11 in MIAC play at Claire Lynch Hall. 

At 13–8 overall and 8–6 in conference play, CSB sits seventh in the MIAC standings, just two games shy of fifth place, with a road contest against Hamline looming on Saturday in St. Paul, Minn. Macalester arrives in St. Joseph at 2–18 overall and 1–13 in league play.

Season Recap

Saint Benedict set the tone for the 2024–25 season right out of the gate. On Nov. 7, the Bennies rolled past Minnesota Morris 91–57, their first 90-point outing since 2019. The following night, CSB captured the Tipoff Tournament championship with a thrilling 51–50 win over Bethany Lutheran.

Sophomore guard Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) quickly emerged as one of the team's focal points. She scored 22 points in the season opener and earned tournament MVP honors before turning in a historic performance at UW–Eau Claire on Nov. 12 with 25 points, seven rebounds, eight steals, and three assists. Her eight steals were the most by a Bennie since 2007, a mark she later matched against Colorado College.

After a narrow loss at Eau Claire, Saint Benedict won four of its next five games, starting with a dominant 75–42 victory over Dubuque on Nov. 15. The Bennies forced 32 turnovers and turned them into a 37–7 advantage in points off turnovers, with 14 different players scoring. Buslee led the way with 16 points and five steals, while Megan Morgan (Winona, Minn.) chipped in 11 points.

That defensive intensity carried over into an 86–57 win against Nebraska Wesleyan, as Morgan poured in a season-high 18 points and senior Megan Driste (Sartell, Minn.) added a career-best 17 points, five assists, four three-pointers, and three steals.

Conference play began with a 59–53 road win at St. Olaf on Nov. 19. Morgan led all scorers with 18 points and eight rebounds, and Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.) iced the game at the free-throw line while finishing with 15 points.

At the Colorado College Fall Classic, Buslee tallied 22 points and eight steals in a 51–48 win over the host Tigers before CSB closed the tournament with a 66–57 loss to Whitman despite strong efforts from Buslee and Morgan.

One of the season's signature moments came on Dec. 10 at Claire Lynch Hall, when Saint Benedict defeated Gustavus Adolphus 67–45 for its first win over the Gusties since 2020. Morgan led the charge with 21 points, nine rebounds, four three-pointers, and three steals.

Momentum carried into January with a 78–70 win over Augsburg on Jan. 3, highlighted by Morgan's near triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high eight assists, and a career-best 19 points from Arnold. Four days later, CSB earned a 72–57 road win at Macalester behind 19 points from Morgan and a career-high 13 from first-year Emma Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.).

After a setback against Hamline, the Bennies rebounded with wins over St. Catherine and Carleton, climbing as high as second in the MIAC standings. Arnold posted a career-high 25 points against the Knights, while Alyssa Sadlovsky added a career-best 13 and Young recorded a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Most recently, Saint Benedict has continued to battle through a demanding stretch of conference play. A Feb. 7 home win over Carleton saw Arnold score 15 points and knock down the game-winning free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining, while Driste and Buslee each added 12.

By the Numbers – Defense and Free Throws Fuel CSB
Defense continues to be the foundation of Saint Benedict's success. The Bennies lead the MIAC in turnover margin (+6.38), rank 30th nationally in Division III, and force 20.33 turnovers per game, second in the conference. CSB also ranks fourth in the MIAC in steals (10.7 per game), fourth in scoring offense (64.6 points per game), and fifth in scoring defense (58.8 points per game), holding 11 opponents to 60 points or fewer.

From the free-throw line, Saint Benedict ranks among the nation's elite, shooting 76.0 percent (11th in Division III- 2^nd in MIAC) and averaging 15.19 made free throws per game, also 14th natio7thnally. The Bennies average just 14.0 turnovers per game, ranking second in the MIAC and 3 nationally.

Buslee leads CSB at 12.7 points per game and adds 4.7 rebounds per game. She paces the team with 39 three-pointers and 58 steals, ranking third in the MIAC. Arnold averages 12.1 points per game and leads all of Division III in free-throw percentage at 93.2 percent (55-of-59). Young is averaging 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds and has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 11 games. Theisen ranks second on the team on the glass with 123 total rebounds (5.9 per game), just behind Young's 126.

Scouting Macalester
Macalester, directed first-year head coach AD Donovan, averages 52.3 points per game and allows 66.4 points per game. Sydnee Smith leads the team in scoring with 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with Mary Daley contributing 10.0 points per game and 6.1 rebounds a contest.

Series Notes
Saint Benedict holds a 67–8 advantage in the all-time series, including a 36–1 record at home and sit 31-7 on the road. The Bennies recorded a 72-57 win over Macalester in St. Paul on Jan. 27, 2026  The series dates back to Jan. 7, 1982, when CSB recorded a 77-46 victory. The Bennies have won four straight in the series.

Coach Durbin Reaches 779 Wins
Saturday's game also comes as head coach Mike Durbin continues to build on a storied career. In his 40th season at Saint Benedict, Durbin owns 775 wins with the Bennies and 779 overall, ranking third all-time in Division III and standing as the MIAC's active leader in conference victories