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WINONA, Minn. — For the second game in a row, the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team dominated the first half Wednesday evening.

And for the second game in a row, the Cardinals stumbled out of the gates to open the second half.

This time around, however, they was able to regroup — and just in time — as the Cardinals got a free throw from Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) with less than five seconds remaining in regulation to lift SMU to a 58-57 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Carleton at the SMU Gym.

Just like last Tuesday, when the Cardinals jumped out to a 12-point first-half lead in their season opener against Elmhurst — the Cardinals appeared to be in complete control in the game's opening 20 minutes against the Knights.

After giving a basket off the opening tip, the Cardinals rattled off 13 straight points to lead 13-2 and never trailed in heading into the locker room with a four-point, 31-27 halftime advantage.

Then came the second half — and things again look eerily similar to last Tuesday's 63-58 nonconference loss at Elmhurst, as Carleton opened the second half on a 8-3 run to take its first lead of the game, 35-34, with 17 minutes remaining. The Knights would build their lead to as many as nine, 50-41, on a pair of free throws by Jenny Ramey.

That's where the similarities would end, however, as the Knights' lead would be short-lived, with the Cardinals storming back to tie the game 50-50 on a 3-pointer Kaitlyn Keefe (Chatfield, Minn.) with 6:33 left on the clock.

Emily DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn.) followed with a 3-pointer of her own to give SMU a 53-50 advantage. A second-chance basket by Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) with 44 seconds remaining put the Cardinals up 57-54, but a 3-pointer by Ramey knotted things at 57-57 — and set up Euerle's last-second heroics.

It was a fitting end for Euerle, who recorded career highs in both points (13) and rebounds (11) en route to her first collegiate double-double. Stefely also recorded a double-double, netting 10 points and 10 rebounds, with DeWitt added 11 points — including knocking down three of the team's five 3-pointers.

Ramey netted a game-high 20 points and Emma Purfeerst chipped in 12 for the Knights (0-1 MIAC, 1-2 overall).

The Cardinals (1-0 MIAC, 1-1 overall) are back in action on Saturday, hosting St. Olaf in a conference game at 1 p.m. at the SMU Gym.