Box Score  | GameDay Preview

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Heading into Saturday's nonconference game between the Saint Mary's University and North Central women's basketball teams, two things were a given — there were going to be a lot of points scored.

And a Cardinal was going to win.

The Cardinals — SMU's variety — entered their final nonconference game of the season averaging more than 75 points a game, including a school-record 107-point performance against Crown on Nov. 23.

The Cardinals — North Central's variety — meanwhile, headed into Saturday's showdown having scored 100 or more points in five times in nine games, including a school-record 124-point effort against Dominican on Dec. 19, while leading the nation in scoring, averaging 101.3 ppg.

And the two teams did not disappoint — combining for 180 points.

Fortunately for Saint Mary's coach Mandy Pearson, it was her Cardinals whose offense won the scoring battle, as SMU cruised to its third straight victory with a 99-81 win.

Shelby Auseth (Wanamingo, Minn.) led the SMU scoring barrage, netting a season- and career-high 28 points. The sophomore guard shot 66 percent from the field, knocking down 12 of 18 field goals — including a pair of 3-pointers — while adding a 2-for-3 effort from the free throw line.

Auseth — whose 28-point effort Saturday was the highest single-game performance since Jess Miller tallied 29 points against Gustavus on Dec. 7, 2009 — was one of five players in double figures for SMU. Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) finished with 15 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while Sara Schoenthaler (White Bear Lake, Minn.) netted 14 points and Octavia Brown (Broadview, Ill.) and Mariam Awoniyi (Country Club Hills, Ill.) chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

North Central, which was held to its lowest offensive performance of the season, finished with four players in double figures, led by Larynn Schumaker with 14.

Euerle knocked down the game's first basket and SMU never relinquished the lead, taking an 11-point, 49-38 lead into the locker room at the half, before outscoring North Central 50-43 over the game's final 20 minutes.

SMU, which improves to 6-1 overall, returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next Saturday, traveling to Moorhead, Minn., for a 1 p.m. showdown with Concordia.