ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — A season defined by balance, consistency and excellence in the classroom as well as on the court saw four members of the College of Saint Benedict basketball team earn national academic recognition.

Seniors Kira Young (Hudson, Wis.) and Megan Driste (Sartell, Minn.), joined by sophomores Drew Buslee (Eagan, Minn.) and Lauren Arnold (Chanhassen, Minn.), were named to the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Basketball Teams. The achievements by this group of Bennies reflect both individual dedication and a collective effort that powered the Bennies to a 16-9 overall record and an 11-7 mark in MIAC play.

 

For Young, the honor marked her second consecutive selection, placing her among an elite group in program history. With the latest quartet of honorees, Saint Benedict now boasts 22 Academic All-District selections all-time, with Young becoming the fifth Bennie to earn the distinction twice.

The award, presented by College Sports Communicators, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined success in athletics and academics. 

The recognition adds to an already impressive list of accolades for the group. Buslee and Arnold each earned All-MIAC honors, while Young received honorable mention distinction.

Young capped her senior campaign with another strong all-around performance. A two-time Academic All-MIAC selection, she averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while anchoring the defense with a team-best 19 blocked shots. She added 35 steals and 24 assists, shot 38.8 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the free-throw line, and finished her career with 735 points and 446 rebounds. Over four seasons, she recorded 37 double-digit scoring games and earned All-MIAC honors twice, including a playoff team selection in 2025.

 

Arnold emerged as one of the conference's premier guards during her sophomore season, earning All-MIAC First Team honors for the first time. She averaged 13.0 points per game and set a single-season school record by shooting an astonishing 94.9 percent from the free-throw line (75-of-79), a mark that led all of NCAA Division III and topped all NCAA divisions. She closed the year by converting her final 27 attempts from the stripe and contributed 55 assists and 38 steals across 23 games, finishing with 17 double-digit scoring performances.

 

Buslee also garnered All-MIAC First Team recognition after a breakout season in which she averaged 12.4 points per game to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. She recorded 18 double-digit scoring games, including three 20-point outings, and poured in a career-high 25 points against UW–Eau Claire. From beyond the arc, she knocked down 44 three-pointers and added 74 steals on the defensive end, ranking fifth all-time in program history.

Driste, a two-time Academic All-MIAC honoree, provided steady production off the bench throughout her career. In her final season, she averaged 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while contributing in multiple facets. She concluded her career with 307 points, 66 made three-pointers and appearances in 93 games, leaving a lasting impact through her consistency and versatility.

Together, the four student-athletes exemplified the standard of excellence that continues to define Saint Benedict basketball—where success in competition is matched by achievement in the classroom.