ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The road wasn't nearly as easy—but the end result was just as sweet.
 
The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team collected its second nonconference win in as many days Sunday, as the Cardinals outscored Saint Benedict 48-40 in the second half in pulling away for a 75-67 victory at Clare Lynch Hall.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals for the second straight game, as the freshman—who was 5-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line in scoring a game-high 14 points in Saturday's season-opening win over Crown—recorded her first collegiate double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Micaela Meredith (Bloomington, Minn.) equaled her career-best with 18 points against the Blazers, while Bridget Pethke (New London, Wis.) chipped in 13 points and six assists.
 
Neither team could gain the upper hand in the opening half, as Saint Mary's held a 14-13 lead after the first quarter, with Saint Benedict turning the tables with a 14-13 edge in the second quarter, as the two teams went into the locker room deadlocked at 27-27.
 
Saint Benedict had the upper hand for most of the third quarter, enjoying a five-point, 47-42 advantage with less than a minute remaining. The Cardinals, however, answered with a quarter-ending 7-0 run to take a 49-47 lead into the final quarter.
 
And in the final quarter, it was all Saint Mary's, as the Cardinals built their lead to as many as 15, 72-57, before settling for the eight-point victory.
 
The Cardinals shot 43 percent from the field (23-for-54)—including three 3-pointers—while going 26 of 32 from the free throw line. Saint Benedict, which was led by Grace Wolhowe's 16 points, shot 32 percent from the field (24-for-74)—draining 10 of 37 3-point attempts—and added a 9 of 16 effort from the charity stripe.
 
The Cardinals (2-0 overall) return home on Tuesday, hosting UW-La Crosse in a 5 p.m. nonconference game at the Saint Mary's Gym.