BOX SCORE
The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (20-5 overall, 18-4 MIAC) earned a share of the MIAC regular season title with a crucial 67-65 win over Gustavus in Claire Lynch this afternoon. This is the Blazers fifth consecutive MIAC regular season championship, either won or shared.
CSB started the game with a 8-3 lead, and stayed ahead for the entire first half. The Gusties were able to bring the lead within one point at 8-7 and within two points at 18-16 and 34-32, but they couldn't edge the Blazers, who shot a 54% field goal percentage in the first half. CSB went into the locker room with a 38-35 lead over Gustavus.
Gustavus found its first lead of the second half at 39-38, and at the 17 minute mark still had the lead at 43-41. Fifteen Blazer turnovers in the second half alone gave the Gusties the edge for 18 minutes of play. With a 56-48 score, Gustavus was still ahead, but an 11-3 CSB run tied the score at 59 with 4:45 to go. The Gusties moved ahead 63-59, but the Blazers again tied the score at 63 with 2:45 left. The teams were scoreless for the next two minutes until Gustavus pulled ahead 65-63 with 45 seconds to go. Junior post
Heather Gillund (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) then sank four clutch freethrows, two to tie the score and two to pull ahead as the Blazers won 67-65.
The Blazers were led by junior forward
Laura Canton (Pine Island, MN, Pine Island), who had 18 points and five rebounds. Gillund came in next with 17 points, seven blocks and six rebounds, while junior wing
Amy Stifter (Watertown, MN, Watertown-Mayer) added 13 points toward the win.
The win tonight not only gave the Blazers the MIAC regular season title, but they secured the no. 1 spot in the MIAC playoffs. They earned a bye in the first round and will play on Wed., Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall, opponent to be determined.