Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — After playing five straight games — and 10 of their last 12 — on the road, the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team got to bring their act home Wednesday evening.

And the Cardinals certainly didn't disappoint.

Angie Arrington (Spring Grove, Minn.) scored a game-high 22 points and Ashley Luehmann (Lewiston, Minn.) came off the bench to chip in 19, as SMU cruised to a 73-45 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Bethel.

"It was a good team effort," said SMU coach Dan Messmann, noting the absence of leading scorer Jamie Rattunde (Rollingstone, Minn.) from the scoring leaders. Rattunde, who entered the game averaging more than 14 ppg, was held to six points by the Royals.

"(Bethel) did a nice job of containing (Jamie), so we needed some other people to step up — and Angie and Ashley did just that," Messmann said. "Jamie made her presence felt in other ways (eight steals, six rebounds and three assists). Everyone contributed in their own way, and that's what we need."

The Cardinals wasted little time putting the second straight win away, using a 16-4 run over the final minutes of the first half to take a commanding 34-22 cushion into the lockerrom.

Act II was just as impressive, as SMU opened with three straight 3-pointers, two by Arrington and another by Tessa Stranik (Eastonville, Wash.) to pad SMU's lead to 21, 43-22.

"We are playing with a ton of confidence right now," said Messmann, whose team has now won five of its last six games to improve to 8-7 in the MIAC and 8-10 overall. "You can see it in the girls eyes. They are having a lot of fun."

Messmann is hoping the fun continues this Saturday, when the Cardinals play host to St. Thomas — which has beaten SMU 36 straight times, including a 66-60 triumph earlier this year.