Box Score  | Photo Gallery | GameDay Preview

WINONA, Minn. — Bridget Pethke (New London, Wis.) had so much fun scoring a career-high 15 points in the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team's 85-73 win over Saint Benedict last Saturday that the Cardinal sophomore decided to do it again on Wednesday.

In the first half.

The Cardinal sophomore tossed in 18 first-half points — then added 14 more over the game's final 20 minutes for good measure — as the Pethke-led Cardinals cruised to their 13th straight victory, a 76-52 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over St. Olaf at the SMU Gym.

Pethke was unstoppable Wednesday, tossing in 8 of 10 field goal attempts — including a 5-for-6 effort from the free throw line — while also adding 11 of 13 free throws in recording the Cardinals' highest single-game performance since before the 1999-2000 season.

Pethke's 32-point effort was just 10 points shy of the program record of 42, set by Mary Schultz against St. Olaf during the 1985-86 season, and equaled by Tricia Rasmussen against UW-Oshkosh in 1992-93.

With Pethke in the lead, the Cardinals were sizzling in the first half, shooting 48 percent from the field — including an impressive 7-for-14 from the 3-point line — en route to a commanding 45-20 halftime advantage.

St. Olaf tried to climb back in early in the second half, cutting SMU's lead to 13 twice, but that was as close as the Oles would get, as the Cardinals put an end to their season-high five-game winning streak.

Pethke was one of three Cardinals to score in double figures, as Shelby Auseth (Wanamingo, Minn.) chipped in 14 points and Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.) added 10 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Kim Cerjan and Elise Rainey finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Oles (9-5 MIAC, 11-6 overall).

With the win, the Cardinals — ranked No. 21 in both the D3hoops.com and USTA TODAY Sports Division III Top 25s — improved to 13-1 in conference play and maintained a one-game lead over Concordia and St. Thomas with eight MIAC games remaining on the schedule.

The Cardinals — whose 13-game winning streak is their longest since opening the season 19-0 en route to the program's last MIAC regular-season title in 1985-86 — pushed their home record to 8-0 heading into Saturday's showdown with second-place Concordia at the SMU Gym. Opening tip is slated for 1 p.m.