By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
BECKER, Minn. — Saint Mary's University's Jessica Massimo (Kenosha, Wis.) saved her best for last at the season-ending Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
 
The Saint Mary's sophomore carded a career-best, final-round nine-over-par 81 Monday — three shots better than her previous career-low round — in leading the Cardinals to a 10th-place finish in the 54-hole event, which was held at Pebble Creek Golf Course.
 
Bethel took home the team title posting a second-day 318 to edge St. Catherine by two strokes. Carleton was third (327-324-313—964), followed by St. Thomas (319-330-316—965) and Saint Benedict (323-331-321—975). Saint Mary's posted rounds of 390-400-380—1170 in placing 10th.
 
Along with her final-round 81, Massimo also posted rounds of 99-94 to finish at 274, five shots in front of teammate Celeste Van Klein (Lake City, Minn.) — who put together rounds of 90-98-91 for a 279 total. Madyson Ulrey (North Manchester, Ind.) chipped in a 295 (95-97-103), with Dani Stevens (Delano, Minn. / DNP-111-105—216) and Cassie Sepp (Duluth, Minn. / 106-DNP-112—218) rounding out the Cardinals' lineup.
 
Carleton's Alyssa Akiyama ran away with the individual crown, shooting a four-over-par 220 (73-73-74) for a nine-shot win over Bethel's Nicole Miller (77-75-77—229). Cayla Kim of St. Thomas (74-80-77—231), Sydney Brown of St. Catherine (79-76-77—232), and Bethel's Anna Tollefson (82-78-74—234) rounded out the top five.