Tauer’s Shot Lifts Blazers

01/26/2008

The College of Saint Benedict basketball team (10-3 MIAC, 12-4 overall) defeated Saint Mary’s 68-66. The Blazers traveled to Winona, Minn. as they attempted to get back on track after their Jan. 23 loss to Concordia, which stemmed from a lack of offensive production. CSB recovered exactly as it wanted by scoring 40 first half points. A good shooting day for the Blazers was nearly not enough to fend off the Cardinals’ comeback. A last-second shot by junior forward Ariel Tauer (Edina, Minn./Edina High School) was the difference that gave CSB the victory. Tauer finished the game with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting.

A 57.7 team field goal percentage in the first half helped the Blazers jump out to a 40-27 lead over SMU. It took the Cardinals 18 minutes, but they succeeded in finally catching up to CSB. With just over two minutes left to play, the score was tied 60-60. Despite Saint Mary’s relentless second half effort, the Blazers pushed back in the final minutes of the game. The next two minutes simply went back-and-forth. CSB went up one and SMU tied it back up. CSB went up by two and SMU countered with a three-pointer to give them the lead. CSB responded with a three-pointer and SMU came back with another two. With 33 seconds left, the game was once again tied, this time at 66-66. It was the Blazer defense that came up big and forced the Cardinals into a turnover with only 13 seconds remaining. With one possession left, CSB went to Tauer for the big shot, which she hit it with less than one second left on the clock.

Throughout the game, Tauer and sophomore wing Mindy Schmidt (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park High School) led the offensive attack. Schmidt matched Tauer’s performance with 17 points of her own. Schmidt did so on 7 of 10 from the field. First-year post Danielle Frank (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia High School) chipped in a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds to boost the Blazers.

CSB is next in action at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30 when it takes on Carleton at home in Claire Lynch Hall.

Stats | Basketball | CSB Sports

Peter Banick, CSB Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098