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WINONA, Minn. — If there was any question about the outcome of Saturday's nonconference game between the Saint Mary's University and Crown women's basketball teams, the Cardinals quickly answered — emphatically.
The Cardinals knocked down their first eight field goals, scored the game's first 23 points and never looked back in pouring in a school-record 107 points in a 107-29 win over the Storm at the SMU Gym.
SMU took advantage of eight turnovers in Crown's first 10 possessions in building a 23-0 lead just seven minutes into the opening half. The Storm finally got on the board on a Jena Willis layup at 12:25, but the Cardinals responded by scoring the next seven points to lead 32-2 — and cruised into the locker room boasting a 51-15 halftime advantage.
It was more of the same in the second half, as SMU shot 69 percent from the field over the game's final 20 minutes — knocking down 23 of 33 field goals — in putting up 54 second-half points.
The Cardinals boasted six players in double figures, led by
Brigette Audette (Big Lake, Minn.) and
Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.), who each tossed in a career-best 13 points.
Darcey Rice (Eagan, Minn.) added 12 points, and
Bridget Pethke (New London, Wis.),
Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) and
Mariam Awoniyi (Country Club Hills, Ill.) all finished with 10.
SMU boasted scoring from 12 of the 13 players who played en route to their school-record point total.
Kayleigh Kloncz (Princeton, Minn.), who finished with eight points, tossed in the Cardinals' 100th and their record-setting 107th point in the second half.
As a team, SMU knocked down 44 field goals — including 7 3-pointers — shooting 61 percent from the field, while also going 12-for-15 from the free throw line.
And the Cardinals were equally as impressive on the defensive end, not only holding Crown to 29 points but also forcing the Storm into 20 turnovers.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 3-0 overall and are off until Dec. 4, when they travel to Arden Hills, Minn., for a 7:30 p.m. conference game against Bethel.
