ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University basketball team claimed a 70-65 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win over the visiting College of Saint Benedict Bennies on Saturday afternoon. The victory puts St. Kate's at 7-6 with a MIAC record of 2-4 this season. 

Junior Maddie Young led St. Kate's posting 15 points with shooting 3 for 4 from the charity line with four boards and senior Greta Schimnowski recorded 12 points with six rebounds. Five players total had double digit points in the game as Hattie Fox and Rachel Randleman added eleven and Lily Peper followed with ten. Defensively, Emme Golembiewski  delivered a game best 12 rebounds to go with her five steals and two blocks. 

Saint Benedict dominated the first quarter with a strong offensive showing, leading 26-14 over St. Kate's. Young tried to rally with some timely layups, but Saint Benedict's defense and fast breaks kept the momentum in their favor.

St. Kate's clawed back in the second quarter to get within one headed into the half. The Wildcats rallied with a strong performance from Randleman, who hit a crucial three-pointer and free throws, and Young's free throws brought them within one. 

Both teams posted a 13 points in the third quarter including a late three pointer from Kristen Oberle that held the Wildcats within one again headed into the final ten minutes of play. 

Schimnowski gave the Wildcats the lead with a good three in the first minute of the fourth quarter. The Bennies were able to take the lead again at 61-60 after a good three pointer. Fox and Schimnowski were responsible for getting St. Kate's a seven point cushion with under two minutes to play as Fox sunk back to back FT's followed by a three pointer just before Schimnowski added three of her own. The Bennies added one final layup with two seconds left for the 70-65 final. 

The Wildcats will host Macalester College on Wednesday, Jan 15 with a 7 pm scheduled start time.