ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – In its return to the court following a 22-day break, the St. Olaf College women's basketball team fell 87-63 to the College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday night at Claire Lynch Hall.

In its first game since Dec. 12, St. Olaf (2-8, 1-5 MIAC) got a career-high 18 points from first year Chloee Smith, but Saint Ben's (7-3, 5-1 MIAC) shot over 50.0 percent in each of the final three quarters to run its record to 5-0 at home this season. The Bennies made multiple three-pointers in all four quarters and were 12-for-28 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc in the game.

Smith had the top scoring night of her young collegiate career with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench for St. Olaf, which shot over 45.0 percent in each of the final three quarters after going 4-for-16 (25.0 percent) in the first 10 minutes. Smith was one of three Oles in double figures along with juniors Sophia Kormann and Sarah Tangen. Kormann was one point shy of her career high with 13 points, while Tangen contributed 11 points and had team highs with seven rebounds and four assists.

Carla Meyer led all scorers with 23 points on 11-for-16 shooting for the Bennies, while Morgan Ebel was 5-for-10 from three-point range to score 15 points off the bench. Lydia Hay was also in double figures with 12 points for the hosts, who got 36 points from their bench in the win to overcome a 20-turnover night.

Three-pointers by Tangen and Smith helped St. Olaf stay within a point at 11-10 six minutes in, but Saint Ben's closed the opening quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 22-10 lead after one. Meyer scored all of her seven first-quarter points during the run, which saw the Bennies hold the Oles scoreless for the final 4:03 of the quarter after Smith's three-pointer.

Saint Ben's extended its lead to 45-26 at halftime after a 23-point second quarter where the Bennies shot 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from the field and hit four three-pointers. Five Bennies had between seven and nine points in the opening half, while Smith and junior Paige Yagodinski combined for 15 of the Oles' 26 first-half points.

Meyer exploded for 14 points in the third quarter to help Saint Ben's extend its lead to 25 heading into the fourth. In the fourth, St. Olaf forced 12 Saint Ben's turnovers and outscored the Bennies by a 19-18 margin but was unable to trim its deficit to fewer than 22 points.

In what will be their first home game since Dec. 6, the Oles return to Skoglund Center to face St. Catherine University on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m.