Blazers Survive Cardinal Surge
February 6, 2006 - The Blazer basketball team (17-4 overall, 14-3 MIAC) defeated the Saint Mary's Cardinals 54-44 in a game where offense was not the key factor. The Cardinals scored the first basket of the game and looked to gain some speed early in the game. However, the Blazers had another idea. After the first basket, the Blazers followed with a 17-2 scoring spree over the next 11 minutes. Once Saint Ben's took the lead, they held onto it for good.
Saint Mary's was able to come back from this disasterous beginning to the game and made the Blazers work a little harder the rest of the period. The Blazers led 28-17 at halftime.
In the second half, the Cardinals came to play. They were on a mission to make this a real ball game. Saint Mary's posted an 8-0 run coming out of the break. The Cardinals pulled within three points of the Blazers.
Saint Ben's calmed down and continued to work their way through the second half. 
The Blazers went on another 12-2 scoring run that left the Cardinals too far away to make an effective comeback. The Blazers held onto the halftime lead on their way to a 10 point victory.
Throughout the game, both teams shot a combined 30.8 percent from the field as they made only 29 of their combined 94 field goal attempts. Since there was very little going on the offensive end, the Blazers relied on their defense to win this game. The Blazers allowed Saint Mary's only 44 points, almost 16 fewer points than their opponents' season average of 59.7 points per game.
The Blazers were led in scoring by junior point guard Katie Kempe (St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall) with 11 points. Senior forward Anna Heikenen (Edina, Minn. / Edina HS) and junior wing Darby Noreen (Avon, Minn. / Albany HS) each contributed 10 points for the Blazers.
The Blazers are next in action at home on Wednesday, February 8 against Macalester. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
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