All Roads Must Go Through Virginia

The Record March 11, 2005

Marie Alton, Staff Writer

STORM LAKE, IOWA ? The St. Ben's basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16.

The Blazers (24-4) defeated Buena Vista (25-3) 77-71 in Saturday's second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Blazers will play George Fox University in third round action Friday at Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va.

Game time is 5 p.m. central time. The winner will advance to the Elite 8 to play the winner of the Randolph-Macon/Trinity game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Blazers knew they were going to be evenly matched with the Beavers Saturday, but they found a way to win again on the road.

"They played just how we expected," sophomore Katie Kempe said. "We adjusted and executed our plays."

Buena Vista was in the lead for the majority of the first half, but the Blazers never were far behind. The Beavers cruised to an 8-0 lead to start the game.

Junior Justine Richels, who went 3-3 from beyond the arc in the first half, scored two consecutive 3-pointers to bring the Blazers back within three points at 16-13 with 11:34 to go. St. Ben's then took its first lead 26-25 with just over five minutes to go. CSB shot 52 percent from the field for the half, but Buena Vista went into halftime with a 36-32 lead.

"We knew we had a chance," Kempe said. "If we kept playing with heart and intensity we could win the game."

The game remained tight in the second half, with both teams staying within striking distance. The Blazers' leading scorer, junior Anna Heikenen, was held to only one point in the first half, but came back with a 13 point second half to finish with 14 for the game.

The Blazers grabbed the lead back, taking a 40-39 lead with 15 minutes to go.

The Beavers came back to tie the game at 59-59 with 7:36 remaining, but the Blazers scored on the next possession and would keep the lead for good.

CSB went ahead by as many as seven points, but Buena Vista cut the Blazers' lead to one point at 72-71 with 56 seconds left in the game.

The Blazers converted on key free throws down the stretch and held on to win 77-71.

"There isn't one person that didn't play well," senior post Kim Johnson said.

Four St. Ben's players scored in double figures. Sophomore Darby Noreen led the Blazers with 17 points, while Kempe added 15.

Johnson notched a double-double knocking in 10 points and grabbing 11 boards. The Blazers and Beavers played a very evenly matched game. Each team made nine 3-pointers and 20 free throws.

The Beavers held a 34-31 rebounding advantage. St. Ben's shot 47 percent from the field, while holding the Beavers to 39 percent shooting for the game.

"We've just come together so much as a team ever since the playoffs," Kempe said. "From there, we never looked back."

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