MOORHEAD, Minn. — The last game of the first round of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games started much the same way the first game of the conference schedule did.

And that wasn't good new for the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team.

The Cardinals closed out the first round of conference games with an 64-42 loss to Concordia Wednesday in a game that looked eerily similar to their conference-opening 87-35 loss to St. Thomas.

At least for the opening 20 minutes

SMU managed just 22 first-half points against the Tommies, while netting just 20 in the opening 20 minutes vs. the Cobbers.

There, however, is where the similarities ended.

The Cardinals eclipsed their 20-point first-half offensive output by the 14-minute mark of the second half on a Kelly Tanke (La Crosse, Wis.) jumper that pulled SMU to within 58-41.

Over the final six minutes, however, SMU was held without a field goal as Concordia cruised to the 22-point win, handing the Cardinals their second straight loss.

Nichole Hanson (Owatonna, Minn.) scored a team-high 12 points, while Jessica Weisbrod (Rollingstone, Minn.) chipped in 10 points for the Cardinals (2-9 MIAC, 4-10 overall).