Game Summary

ST. PAUL, Minn. — With three games remaining in the regular season and an invitation to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament already tucked away in their back pocket, there was still plenty at stake as the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team squared off against St. Thomas.

For the Cardinals, it was that elusive home playoff opener — something SMU has yet to have during its four straight MIAC tournament appearances.

For the Tommies, it was that sixth and final playoff spot.

When the final horn sounded Saturday afternoon, it was the Tommies who were one stepping closer to joining the MIAC postseason party — taking the wind out of the Cardinals' home playoff sails in the process — as UST used a 24-6 run early in the second half to hand SMU a 71-62 setback.

With the loss, SMU falls to 16-6 in the MIAC and remains a half game in front of Gustavus for the No. 4 spot in the conference standings. SMU still has to play at league-leading Carleton (16-2 MIAC) on Wednesday, before closing out the season at home against St. Olaf (7-11 MIAC), while the Gusties close out their season with a single game at St. Benedict (14-4 MIAC) next Saturday.

Jamie Rattunde (Rollingstone, Minn.) scored a game- and season-high 27 points for the Cardinals, who led 33-27 at the half and 35-27 early in the second half, only to have UST hit four 3-pointers to fuel a 24-6 run that turned that eight-point lead into a 10-point, 51-41, deficit with 11:11 to play.

SMU pulled to within three, 52-49 on a 3-pointer by Ashley Luehmann (Lewiston, Minn.), but they could get no closer as St. Thomas knocked down 9 of 12 free throws in the final 3:40 to ice the win.

Luehmann chipped in 14 points for the Cardinals, who had a pair of winning streaks — their current four-game winning streak, not to mention a three-gamer vs. the Tommies — snapped with the loss.

Vel Williams and Erica Opdahl each had 13 points to lead four UST players in double figures.