WINONA, Minn. — It may not have been one of the their prettiest performances of the season, but the end result suited Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball coach Brent Pollari just fine.
 
After all, a win is a win.
 
The Cardinals managed just 56 points—and shot a meager 33 percent from the field—Wednesday evening against Macalester.
 
But, thanks to three players scoring in double figures, a game-high 16 rebounds from Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.), and a tenacious defense, 56 points and 33 percent shooting suited the Cardinals just fine, as Saint Mary's dropped the visiting Scots 56-52 at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.) got the Cardinals off to a quick start, netting the Cardinals' first six points in leading Saint Mary's to a quick, 11-9 lead after the game's opening 10 minutes.
 
Macalester scored the first four points of the second half to take its first lead of the game, 13-11, only to have Schaefer knock down a jumper and Kirsten Keefe (Chatfield, Minn.) drain a 3-pointer to put the Cardinals back in front by three, 16-13.
 
The Scots once again had an answer, using a 6-2 burst to take its second lead of the quarter, 19-18 with 1:30 remaining. Unfazed, Saint Mary's promptly scored the final seven points of the half—three on a 3-pointer by Brigette Audette (Big Lake, Minn.) and back-to-back buckets by Michele Remer (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn.)—to take a 25-19 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
Saint Mary's pushed its lead to a game-high eight points twice in the third quarter, before settling for a four-point, 43-39 lead heading into the game's final 10 minutes.
 
Macalester opened the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run to grab its biggest lead of the game, 49-47, only to have Saint Mary's outscore the Scots 9-3 over the game's final seven minutes to seal their third straight win.
 
Schaefer, Audette, and Keefe all finished with 10 points to pace the Cardinals, while Schaefer added five assists and five steals and Blattner chipped in eight points to go with her game-high 16 rebounds.
 
Lauren Clamage scored a game-high 22 points in the losing effort for Macalester, which made 20 of its 49 field goals—including five 3-pointers, while finishing 7 of 13 free throw attempts.
 
The Cardinals (3-2 MIAC, 9-3 overall) are back in action on Saturday, welcoming St. Catherine to the Saint Mary's Gym for a 3 p.m. conference matchup.