WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's basketball team officially closes out the first round of the MIAC schedule Saturday, as the Cardinals host Gustavus in a 1 p.m. contest at the SMU Gym.





The Teams:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (6-5 MIAC / 8-6 Overall)
Gustavus Gusties (7-5 MIAC / 8-7 Overall)

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Last Action:
Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) scored a game-high 21 points and the Cardinals held off a second-half Augsburg rally to beat the Auggies 74-62 Wednesday at the SMU Gym. Gustavus, meanwhile, got 16 points from Ava Perry in beating Bethel 77-64 in Arden Hills, Minn., Wednesday.

A Year Ago:
December 7, 2009: Jess Miller (Carver, Minn.) scored a career-high 29 points, but it was not enough, as Gustavus held off the pesky Cardinals en route to a 74-66 MIAC victory at the SMU Gym.

January 27, 2010: The Cardinals made just eight first-half field goals Wednesday evening against Gustavus, and the Gusties took advantage, racing out to a 43-22 lead at the break en route to a 68-49 MIAC victory in St. Peter, Minn.

Up Next:
The Cardinals continue their extended homestand on Wednesday, hosting Bethel in a 7:30 p.m. conference matchup at the SMU Gym. Gustavus, meanwhile, is also home on Wednesday, as the Gusties entertain St. Olaf at 7:30 p.m. at the Lund Center in St. Peter, Minn.

Saint Mary's Cardinals News and Notes:
Wednesday's win over the Auggies snapped the Cardinals' two-game losing streak and completed a conference sweep of Augsburg this season. SMU opened conference play on Dec. 1 with a 57-44 over the Auggies. … The Cardinals had a 20-point scorer for the fifth straight game against Augsburg Monday, as Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) netted a game- and career-best 21 points. The sophomore also hauled in 10 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season and third of her career. … Stefely has now accounted for two of SMU's three double-doubles this season. She and Jessica Thone (Woodbury, Minn.) each had a double-double against Macalester on Dec. 4, with Thone scoring 13 points and adding 10 rebounds, while Stefely had 10 points and 10 boards. … Jess Miller (Carver, Minn.) — the reigning MIAC Player of the Week — had her streak of 20 or more points snapped at four straight games vs. Augsburg. … Miller, who is the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, enters today's game against Gustavus averaging a team-best 13.8 ppg and has scored1,047 career points. She is currently seven points behind Jessica Weisbrod for No. 8 all-time and 15 points back of No. 7 Amy Burns. … Miller enters tonight's game vs. the Gusties having started every game of her collegiate career — a span of 89 consecutive starts. … Cherie Kulig (Independence, Wis.) pulled down a career-best nine rebounds vs. Augsburg on Wednesday, while Renee Pecarina (Winona, Minn.) netted a season-high 10 points. … The Cardinals have made 53 3-pointers, led by Thone with 12 and Miller with 11. … The Cardinals' 74 points against Augsburg marked the second-highest offensive output of the season. SMU netted a season-best 76 points in a 76-57 win over St. Catherine on Jan. 12. … The Cardinals made 26 of 37 free throws vs. St. Olaf on Jan. 5 — both were season highs. The 26 FTM and 37 FTA were also the most since SMU went 35-for-50 from the charity stripe vs. Hamline on Jan. 7, 2001. … Saint Benedict's 73 points last Monday marked just the second time in SMU's 13 games that the Cardinals have allowed a team to score more than 70 points. … The Cardinals have outscored their opponents by 60 points (463-403) in the second half. … SMU's 57-51 loss at Hamline on Jan. 15 snapped the Cardinals' season-high three-game winning streak. … Five of SMU's eight wins have come on the road | 2010-2011 Overall Statistics

Gustavus Gusties News and Notes:
Wednesday's 77-64 victory over Gustavus was the Gusties' second straight road win and third straight victory overall. … Gustavus has scored 60 or more points in all eight of their wins — including a season-high 91 in a 91-70 win over Augsburg last Monday. … Today's game at Saint Mary's is the third straight road game for the Gusties. … Ava Perry matched her season high with a team-best 16 points against Bethel Wednesday. Perry scored 12 of her 16 points in the first half. … Abby Rothenbuehler also scored in double figures against the Royals Wednesday, finishing with 15 points. … Molly Geske and Molly Mathiowetz enter today's game at SMU as the team's offensive leaders, averaging 14.1 ppg and 12.6 ppg, respectively. … Perry's team-leading 16 points vs. Bethel Wednesday marked just the third time this season Geske or Mathiowetz have not led the team in scoring. … Perry is the team's top 3-point threat, have netted 22 treys in 15 games, while Geske has contributed 21. … Five of Gustavus' eight wins have come at home, where the Gusties are 5-2 | 2010-2011 Overall Statistics