Game Summary / GameDay Preivew

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's basketball team's conference-opening run hit a brick wall Monday evening, as Bethel handed the Cardinals their first MIAC loss of the season, a 60-48 decision at Robertson Center.

The Cardinals struggled to find their shooting touch in the first half, and never seemed to recover, falling behind 31-16 at the break. SMU made a run in the second half, outscoring the Royals 32-29, but it was too little, too late.

Jess Miller (Carver, Minn.) and Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals — who had opened conference play with wins over Augsburg and Macalester — scoring 12 points. Miller knocked down 5 of 11 shots from the field, while Stefely was 6-for-9 from the field. Scottie Moats scored a game-high 14 points for the Royals, who had three players in double figures.

The Cardinals, who fall to 2-1 in conference play and 4-2 overall, are back in action on Saturday, when they travel to St. Catherine for a 3 p.m. conference game against St. Catherine.