ST. JOSEPH, Minn. –  Senior Makenna Ash posted her eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and 16 rebounds, but the St. Olaf College women's basketball team fell, 78-52, to College of Saint Benedict in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest Saturday afternoon at Claire Lynch Hall.

CSB (8-7, 4-4) outscored St. Olaf (5-10, 2-6) 46-27 in the second half and shot 58.33 percent from the field in the second half, including 6-of-10 shooting behind the arc to secure the victory over the Oles.

Ash and sophomore Keegan Mulvihill led St. Olaf with 13 points each, along with 16 rebounds from Ash.  Junior Allyson Fuller added nine points and junior Ella Skrien contributed seven points and three assists.

In the first quarter the Bennies took a 9-4 lead after Shae Olson sank a jumper, but the Oles responded with a three-pointer from Mulvihill as K'Lynn Lewis found her on the arc. CSB answered with a 12-6 run and took a 21-13 lead after a pair of free throws from Bailey Becker. After a three-pointer from Mulvihill, Fuller sank two three-pointers, including one with two seconds remaining in the period, to give St. Olaf a 23-21 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Oles held the Bennies scoreless for the first 3:54 of the second quarter and layup from Ash at 5:28 gave St. Olaf a 25-23 lead, but the Bennies answered with a 9-0 run to end the period and to take a 32-25 lead heading into the second half.  St. Olaf was held to just five points in the second quarter while CSB scored 11.

The Bennies started the second half on a 10-2 run and took a 42-27 lead after a pair of free throws from Megan Thomas. The Oles answered with a 12-2 run and cut the deficit to seven after a basket from first year Camryn Scott with just under three-minutes remaining in the third period. CSB ended the period on an 8-1 run and took a 14-point leading heading into the final period.

St. Olaf was held to just three points for the first 4:45 of the fourth quarter as the Bennies took a 19-point lead after a layup from Sidney Schiffler. The Oles would come within 18 after a pair of free throws from first year Sydney Beard with just under three minutes remaining in the contest, but CSB ended the game on an 11-3 run.

Despite the Oles outrebounding CSB, 39-32, the Bennies forced 21 St. Olaf turnovers while committing just eight.

The Oles look to bounce back Wednesday, January 16, as they travel across town to Carleton for their second meeting of the season, beginning at 6 p.m.