Pair of basketball stars reach 1,000 career points

On Jan. 3, the CSB basketball team played St. Olaf in a home game at Claire Lynch Hall.

Although the Bennies took home an 87-63 win, an even bigger accomplishment was achieved during the game when senior captain Carla Meyer scored her 1,000th career point. Meyer entered the game needing 19 points to reach this milestone but ended up scoring 23 points that night against the Oles.

With the Bennies’ next game being at St. Scholastica, Meyer said achieving this feat at home, surrounded by her friends and family, made it all the better. Additionally, the home court atmosphere contributed to this special moment.

She said scoring 1,000 points in college was more meaningful and impressive than high school due to the tougher competition.

“Everyone’s goal is to achieve something like this, so it was a really cool moment. I wasn’t sure if I’d achieve this during my collegiate career, but my teammates were all very supportive and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Meyer said.

With it being her senior season, Meyer is excited to make a run in the playoffs.

“If we keep playing good as a team, it would be fun to see how far we can go. It would be a great way to end my senior season on a high note,” Meyer said.

Junior captain Sophia Jonas was very excited about Meyer’s recent accomplishment.

“I remember I had the jitters when she was two points away because I was so excited for her. It is such an amazing accomplishment, and to see one of my closest teammates achieve it is so awesome. Carla has worked so hard to earn this accomplishment, and I am so proud of her,” Jonas said via email.

She said Meyer strives to be the best teammate she can be and always shows she cares about other’s success.

“She’s always there to cheer teammates up and keep practice light and fun. If anyone makes a good shot or good pass, she’ll be the first one to let them know,” Jonas said.

Additionally, Meyer’s ability and leadership are a key to the team’s success.

“As a point guard, Carla knows each of her teammate’s strengths and knows when to get each of them the ball, as well as knowing when to take the shot for herself. Our offense runs through Carla’s hands, and we can always trust her to be a leader on the court,” Jonas said.

Senior captain Lydia Hay loved watching her teammate celebrate this milestone.

“It was just really fun seeing how happy she was for getting that accomplishment, and we were all super excited for her because it’s a great accomplishment to have,” Hay said.

Hay said Meyer is often quieter on the court but is very energetic and social off the court. She is always very positive and encouraging, and as one of the team’s captains, she’s an amazing all-around leader.

Meyer currently leads the team in both points and assists, which, Hay says, attests to her true leadership and ability.

“She leads by action, and seeing her work really hard during games definitely feeds other players and encourages them to play good too. She makes everyone else better,” Hay said.

According to Hay, Meyer is well known for hyping everyone up for each game with her legendary playlists. She takes AUX during warmups and is the main instigator of bringing energy to the team before a game.

Senior captain Morgan Ebel remembers the many cheers and posters held up for Meyer once she scored her 1,000th point. She said it was amazing watching everyone’s reactions in the stands.

“I was actually on the court with Carla when she hit her 1,000th point, which was really special. Carla and I grew up playing AAU basketball together and she is one of my best friends, so being able to be out there and experience that with her was something I’ll never forget,” Ebel said via email.

Ebel noted that Meyer’s constant encouragement helps to keep the team motivated, especially when she’s in charge of the music.

“She is the type of teammate whose positive energy makes it easy to show up every day and be happy. Carla is the best version of herself when she is on AUX. She knows how to get the team hype before games and practices,” Ebel said.

Head coach Mike Durbin is impressed by how quickly Meyer achieved this milestone. During her freshman year, which was during COVID, the team only played nine games compared to their usual 20-plus regular season games. Despite having a shortened freshman season, Meyer still hit 1,000 points during the first half of her senior season.

Durbin said this was a clear indication of her abilities and why she is so valuable for the team’s offense.

In addition to her talent, Durbin said Meyer brings personality and an amazing sense of humor.

“Her teammates truly enjoy being around her. She makes sure everyone is comfortable and having a good time,” Durbin said.

Durbin recognizes Meyer’s time with the team is almost up as her senior season nears the end.

“I think there will be a lot of teams in our conference that will be happy to see her graduate, but on the flip side, I will be very disappointed to see her graduate. She’s very easy to coach and completely invested in what we are trying to do. She wants to get better and has evolved into a very complete player for us. She’s going to be a difficult player to replace moving forward because of the particular offensive skillset that she brings to our team,” Durbin said.