Heikenen Leads Blazers on Her Senior Night
February 15, 2006 - The Blazer basketball team (20-4 overall, 16-3 MIAC) defeated the Augsburg Auggies 71-57 in a must-win ball game. With tonight's victory, the Blazers secured a share of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. This is the ninth MIAC title for Saint Ben's. Not only did the Blazers remain in the top spot in the MIAC, but they won their 20th game of the season, a feat that has been accomplished 17 times in CSB history.
In the last regular season home game, the Blazers honored sole senior and captain Anna Heikenen (Edina, Minn. / Edina HS) for her dedication and performance on the Blazer basketball team. The team gave Heikenen the best gift possible, a win. And another big win at that.
The game started off with a quick Auggie basket then quickly turned into a Blazer basketball showcase. Saint Ben's answered with their own 17-2 scoring spree over the next six minutes. The Blazers went into halftime with a 36-26 lead.
Heikenen scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half.
During halftime, the Blazers evidently decided 10 points was not a comfortable lead, and they were going to do something about it. The Blazers took the Auggies by shock when they scored the first 11 points of the second period. As much as Augsburg tried, they had been stunned and were unable to recover from the powerful blow by the Blazers.
Saint Ben's continued to cruise through the second half on their way to a 14 point victory. Behind Heikenen's 20, the Blazers were also led in scoring by junior wings Jen Dalhed (Apple Valley, Minn. / Apple Valley HS) and Darby Noreen (Avon, Minn. / Albany HS). Dalhed scored 11 points and Noreen came in right behind her with 10 points for the Blazers.
With only one game remaining in conference play, the Blazers are on a nine game winning streak and on top of the standings in the MIAC.
The Blazers are next in action at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 at Gustavus. If the Blazers are able to defeat the Gusties, they will secure the number one seed in the MIAC Playoffs next week.
Peter Banick, Sports Information Student Assistant
Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098