ST. JOSEPH, MINN.--The Hamline University women's basketball team fell to Saint Benedict 47-44 in St. Joseph, Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.
The Pipers fall to 7-4, while the Bennies improve to 9-2.
Saint Benedict 47, Hamline 44
Hamline initially took a 2-0 lead with a layup by
Anna Rynkiewich at 9:17. However, the home team quickly responded with a layup by Olivia Boily to tie the game. Lauren Arnold then added three consecutive free throws, giving the Bennies a 5-2 advantage at 6:07. Saint Benedict extended their lead further when Sophia Jonas hit a three-pointer with 4:56 on the clock, and by the end of the quarter, found themselves ahead 13-4. Hamline struggled with their shooting, converting only 2-of-17 baskets in the frame, while Saint Benedict capitalized on free throws and rebounds to build their lead.
Hamline outscored the Bennies 18-6 in the second quarter, fueled by a strong performance that included several key plays.
Lauren Cooper started the period by scoring a free throw at 9:45, followed by
Anna Rynkiewich's 3-pointer at 8:07, which helped close the gap early in the quarter.
Marina LaFreniere was instrumental, scoring two-consecutive layups at 7:48 and 6:54, tying the game 13-13.
Camille Cummings added to the momentum with a layup at 2:31, and
Josie Schmidt's layup at 1:22, assisted by
Sophie Stork, which gave the Pipers a 17-16 lead at the 3:22 mark.
Kate Trachsel added a three-pointer with 2:07 remaining, bringing Hamline's lead to four points at 20-16. Saint Benedict struggled with shooting, managing only two baskets, both 3-pointers, as the Pipers took a 22-19 halftime advantage.
The Pipers and Bennies engaged in a competitive exchange of scoring, with the latter slightly winning the third quarter 17-15. Olivia Boily opened the frame with a layup to give her team a 22-21 lead, but
Yasmeen Abed countered with two free throws for Hamline, which put them back in the driver's seat at 24-21 with 9:24 on the clock. Lauren Arnold contributed significantly for Saint Benedict with multiple key plays, including a layup with 00:27 left to narrow the gap to 37-36.
Camille Cummings led the Pipers with effective drives, scoring twice on layups, while
Sophie Stork added a three-pointer to extend their lead. Despite turnovers from both sides, Hamline maintained a slight 37-36 edge going into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was marked by a series of turnovers and missed opportunities.
Kate Trachsel connected on a layup at 8:17 and a three-pointer at 6:02, which gave Hamline a 42-38 edge. Despite
Camille Cummings tying the score at 44 with a layup at the 3:50 mark, Lauren Arnold's 3-pointer and subsequent free throws by Sofia Baldessari with 2:30 remaining helped secure Saint Benedict's 11-7 run in the quarter, resulting in a 47-44 victory.
Both teams shot under .300 in the contest.
Camille Cummings led Hamline with a strong performance, scoring 10 points and making five baskets.
Kate Trachsel also contributed 10 points, including two 3-pointers, while adding two assists.
Anna Rynkiewich was a key player on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds, five of which were offensive.
Lauren Cooper played a significant role in defense, securing eight total rebounds and recording a steal.
Evelyn Wiltrout added to the team's effort with four rebounds and a steal.
Sophia Jonas was effective from beyond the arc, making four 3-pointers and also securing two steals. Sofia Baldessari provided a strong all-around performance, tying for the team lead with 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Olivia Boily also put in a solid performance with eight points and six rebounds. Megan Morgan contributed with two steals and three assists, showcasing her versatility on the court. Lauren Arnold led the Bennies in steals with two, and added 10 points.
The Pipers will travel to Carleton on Wednesday, January 8. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
