WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team returns home on Tuesday, as the Cardinals entertain Viterbo in a 7 p.m. nonconference game at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The Matchup:
• Saint Mary's Cardinals (2-1 Overall) vs. Viterbo V-Hawks (1-6 Overall)
 
GameDay Live On The Web:
• Live Stats * Live Video | GameDay Program
 
Last Action:
• Saint Mary's—November 19-20, 2016 * St. Joseph, Minn.: The Cardinals split their two games at the Saint Benedict Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament last weekend. Saint Mary's fell behind 25-7 after the first quarter and had its rally fall just short in dropping a 64-54 decision to the Blue Devils last Saturday, while scoring the game's first four points and never relinquishing the lead in a 65-57 win over Martin Luther the next day | UW-Stout Recap * Martin Luther Recap
• Viterbo—November 19, 2016 * St. Peter, Minn.: The V-Hawks managed just 19 points through the game's first three quarters—including five in the second stanza—as Viterbo dropped a 67-30 nonconference decision to Gustavus at Gus Young Court | Recap
 
Saint Mary's vs. Viterbo—Their Last Meeting:
• November 22, 1997 * Winona, Minn.: The Cardinals and V-Hawks have not met in nearly 20 years, with Viterbo winning their last meeting, 78-66 at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
Up Next:
• Saint Mary's: The Cardinals hit the road on Saturday, traveling to Duluth, Minn., for a 3 p.m. nonconference game against St. Scholastica.
• Viterbo: The V-Hawks are off until next Tuesday, when they head to River Falls, Wis., for a 6 p.m. nonconference matchup against UW-River Falls.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2016-17 Roster | 2016-17 Statistics | 2016-17 Schedule
• With their 76-64 win over the University of Dubuque on Nov. 15, the Cardinals have now won their season-opener in each of the last four seasons—dating back to a 63-58 loss to Elmhurst to kick off the 2011-12 season. … Heading into Tuesday's game against Viterbo, Saint Mary's is 46-5 on its home court over the past five seasons. … Sam Jones (White Bear Lake, Minn.) has scored in double figures in all three of the Cardinals' games this season. The senior equaled her single-game career high with 16 points against the University of Dubuque on Nov. 15, netted 10 points against UW-Stout last Saturday, and poured in a new career-high 21 points against Martin Luther last Sunday. … Jones was the Cardinals' lone representative on the Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament all-tournament team. … Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) recorded her first double-double of the season against Martin Luther last Sunday, scoring 13 points and adding 10 rebounds. Blattner recorded nine double-doubles during her freshman campaign a year ago. … The Cardinals boasted five players who scored in double figures in their season-opening win over the University of Dubuque last Tuesday—led by Jones with a game-high 16 points. Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn. / 13), Blattner (12), Brittney Flom (Kenyon, Minn. / 11), and Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn. / 10) were the other four. Saint Mary's had five players score in double figures once a year ago. … Jones heads into Tuesday's nonconference game against Viterbo averaging a team-best 15.7 ppg. Blattner (12.0 ppg) and Schaefer (11.0 ppg) are also averaging in double figures through three games. … Blattner owns a team-leading 23 rebounds (7.7 rpg), four more than Jones (19 / 6.3 rpg). … Jones hauled in a career-best seven rebounds against the University of Dubuque last Tuesday. … The Cardinals, who made 163 3-pointers last season, have drained 17 treys in three games this season—including a 10-for-24 showing against the University of Dubuque last Tuesday. … Huisman leads the team with five 3-pointers, one more than Schaefer. … Saint Mary's is averaging 65.0 ppg—including a season-high 76-point effort in its season-opening 76-64 win over the University of Dubuque. … The Cardinals have outscored their first three opponents 60-45 in the second quarter and 48-43 in the third. Saint Mary's opponents hold a 51-42 scoring edge in the first quarter and a one-point, 46-45, advantage in the fourth. … Saint Mary's—picked to finish third in the MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll—made its fifth straight MIAC Playoff appearance last season—and the Cardinals have reached at least the semifinals each time. … With their 21-6 overall record last season, the Cardinals have now reached the 20-win plateau in three of the last four seasons.
 
Scouting The Viterbo V-Hawks:
2016-17 Roster | 2016-17 Statistics | 2016-17 Schedule
• Tuesday's game against Saint Mary's is the second against teams from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Viterbo dropped a 67-30 decision to Gustavus last Saturday. … Viterbo's 82-75 win over Buena Vista last Friday snapped the V-Hawks' season-opening five-game losing streak. … The V-Hawks' 82 points against Buena Vista last Friday were a season high. … Viterbo, which is averaging 55.3 ppg—has been held under 60 points in five of its seven contests this season—including a season-low 30-point effort in last Saturday's 67-30 loss to Gustavus. … Alyssa Nilssen scored a team-high 10 points in the V-Hawks loss to Gustavus last Saturday. … Nilssen heads into Tuesday's game against Saint Mary's averaging a team-best 13 points. Mariah Weddle is also averaging in double figures at 10.0 ppg. … Nilssen is also the team's rebounding leader with 52 (7.4 rpg), seven more than Arissa Geiser (45, 6.4 rpg). … Bailey Jones has dished out a team-leading 14 assist, while also boasting a team-best nine steals. … Viterbo has poured 24 3-pointers through seven games, led by Jones and Kassi Hofschild with four each. … Tuesday's game against Saint Mary's is the sixth road game for the V-Hawks, who are 1-4 on the road, while dropping both of its home contests this season.