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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — It's been said that defense wins championships, and the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team has certainly taken that adage to heart.

The Cardinals allowed Augsburg an additional five minutes and still held the Auggies six points under their season average, as SMU picked up its fourth straight win with a 59-53 overtime victory at Si Melby Hall.

For the third time this season, the Cardinals defense was at its best early, as the Cardinals held Augsburg to just 14 first-half points — the third time this season they have limited their opponent to less than 15 points in the game's opening 20 minutes.

Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) had a monster start for SMU, as the senior post netted the Cardinals' first three baskets and finished with 11 first-half points in leading Saint Mary's to a 19-14 halftime advantage.

Despite the five-point edge, the Cardinals could not shake the Auggies, as Augsburg grabbed its first lead of the game, 32-30, midway through the second half, and actually held a four-point, 46-42 advantage with 1:24 remaining. A pair of free throws by Stefely and a layup off an offensive rebound by Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) with 14 seconds on the clock forced the five-minute overtime period.

In the extra session, Sara Schoenthaler (Hugo, Minn.) kicked things off with a 3-pointer and SMU never looked back, outscoring Augsburg 13-7 to ice their 12th win of the season — including nine in conference play.

Stefely added nine points to her first-half effort, finishing with a game-high 20 points, while also adding 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Schoenthaler chipped in a career-best 12 points and Euerle and Jessica Thone (Woodbury, Minn.) each added 10 for the Cardinals — who have now boasted four players in double figures in two of their last three games and three times this season.

As a team, SMU shot 35 percent from the field (18 of 52), but took advantage of 27 trips to the free throw line, finishing 20-for-27.

Abbey Luger tallied 16 points and Jolene Blood finished with 11 to pace the Auggies (3-9 MIAC, 5-10 overall), who shot 36 percent from the field (20-for-55), but hit just 5 of 20 3-point attempts.

The Cardinals (9-3 MIAC, 12-3 overall) are right back in action on Monday, as SMU travels to Hutton Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. conference game against Hamline.