Box Score  | GameDay Preview

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University and Carleton women's basketball teams met twice a year ago — with both games being decided by a single point.

So it really should have come as no surprise Saturday, when the Cardinals headed into halftime with a one-point 22-21 lead over the host Knights.

That, however, would be where the similarities would end.

The Cardinals made sure this year's first meeting between the two teams would not end the way last year's did, as SMU scored 10 of the first 12 points to start the second half — and never looked back in cruising to a 50-36 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at West Gym.

SMU got off to a quick start, scoring the game's first eight points, but Carleton used a 17-9 run to knot the game at 17-17 and the Cardinals settled for the one-point halftime cushion.

It was all Saint Mary's in the second half, as the Cardinals opened a nine-point, 32-23 advantage with their half-opening 10-2 run and outscored Carleton 18-13 the rest of the way to seal their fifth conference win in seven tries.

Jessica Thone (Woodbury, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals (5-2 MIAC, 8-2 overall), scoring a game-high 11 points. It was the 22nd time in SMU's last 26 games that the senior guard has netted 10 or more points. Jamie Stefely (Lisle, Ill.) chipped in 10 points and was one of three players — along with Thone and Bridget Pethke (Larsen, Wis.) — with a team-best six rebounds.

Gabbi Stienstra scored a team-best nine points for the Knights (2-5 MIAC, 2-8 overall), who shot just 25 percent from the field for the game.

The Cardinals are right back in action on Monday, traveling to Moorhead, Minn., for a 3 p.m. conference showdown against Concordia.