Box Score  | GameDay Preview

ST. PETER, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's basketball team boasted three players in double figures in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown with Gustavus.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Gusties answered with five double-figure scorers, as GAC outlasted SMU 86-66 in a battle of conference heavyweights at Gus Young Court.

Jessica Thone (Woodbury, Minn.) scored a season-high 21 points to lead the way for the Cardinals, while Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) added 15 and Bridget Pethke (Larsen, Wis.) chipped in 14.

Gustavus (6-0 MIAC, 7-2 overall), fueled by 61 percent shooting from the field — including a 3-for-5 effort from behind the 3-point line — raced out to a 46-30 advantage at the half, and never let the Cardinals cut into that cushion over the game's final 20 minutes.

The Cardinals shot 40 percent from the field (25-for-63) — and got a pair of 3-pointers from both Pethke and Thone — but it was not enough, as SMU fell for just the second time in its first nine games this season.

SMU (4-2 MIAC, 7-2 overall) are back in action on Saturday, as the Cardinals travel to Northfield, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference contest against Carleton.