By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — Brooklyn Paulson (Holmen, Wis.) and Shayley Vesel (Austin, Minn.) each scored in double figures, but the Cardinal 1-2 punch was not enough to carry the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team past cross-town rival Winona State in the teams' season-opener Saturday.
 
The NCAA Division II Warriors jumped out to a 14-point, 47-33 halftime lead and never looked back in handing Saint Mary's an 86-53 nonconference setback at McCown Gym.
 
The Cardinals scored the game's first basketball —  a layup by Jada Biermeier (Eau Claire, Wis.) on the team's first field goal attempt — but that would be the only time they would lead against the host Warriors, who led 16-13 with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, before riding a quarter-ending 9-2 run to push their advantage to 25-15 after 10 minutes.
 
Winona State continued to pull away in the second quarter, building leads of 14 or more four times — including a 14-point, 47-33 at the break.
 
Try as they might, the Cardinals could not cut into the Warriors' advantage in the second half, as Winona State slowly pulled away, leading by 18 heading into the final quarter — and outscoring Saint Mary's 18-3 over the game's last 10 minutes to seal the season-opening win.
 
Paulson — the MIAC's Co-Rookie of the Year and an MIAC honorable-mention selection a year ago — finished with a team-high 15 points — including nine in the first half — while Vesel chipped in 10, and Biermeier and Ewelina Schlomann (New Berlin, Wis.) each added nine.
 
Winona State boasted five players in double figures — led by Emma Fee with 15 points. Sydney Lodermeier added 13, while Emily Kieck and Taylor Hustad each netted 12, and Allie Pickrain finished with 11.
 
Saint Mary's shot 31 percent from the field (19-for-62), but were just 4 of 22 from beyond the 3-point line. The Cardinals added an 11-for-15 effort from the free throw line, while hauling in 40 rebounds. Winona State shot 43 percent from the field (32-for-74 — and knocked down 12 3-pointers — while adding a 10-for-14 showing from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals (0-1 overall) are right back in action on Monday, heading to Oshkosh, Wis., for a 7 p.m. nonconference game against UW-Oshkosh. The Warriors (1-0 overall), meanwhile, are back on their home court at McCown Gym on Saturday, entertaining Viterbo in a 6 p.m. nonconference game.