WINONA, Minn. — Lindsey Lettner (Trempealeau, Wis.) and Autumn Passehl (La Crosse, Wis.) each enjoyed career scoring nights for the Saint Mary's women's basketball team Wednesday evening.
 
Unfortunately, the duo's 12-point performances proved to be the highlight of the evening for the Cardinals, as Saint Benedict erupted for 20 or more points in each of the first three quarters in dealing Saint Mary's a 74-55 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The Cardinals and Bennies traded 3-pointers — SMU's come from Maddie Wall (Cameron, Wis.) — to open the first quarter, but by the time SMU would net its second field goal of the period, a Grace Schaffer (Farmington, Minn.) jumper with three minutes to play, CSB had rattled off 14 unanswered points en route to a 20-12 first-quarter lead.
 
The second quarter started in the exact same fashion as the first, with CSB's Sophia Jonas once again opening with a 3-pointer, followed by a trey from Saint Mary's Passehl. Saint Mary's kept pace with the Bennies through most of the second frame, but could not get any close than seven, only to have Saint Benedict close the half on an 11-5 run to take a 40-25 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
The intermission did little to cool off the red-hot Bennies' offense, as CSB — coming off 20-point showings in each of the first two quarters — erupted for 22 points in the third to extend their lead to 62-40 heading into the game's final 10-minute quarter.
 
Saint Mary's outscored the Bennies 15-12 in the final stanza, but it was too little, too late.
 
Along with the 12-point efforts by both Passehl and Lettner, Saint Mary's also got six points from both Riley Schiernbeck (Ida Grove, Iowa) and Maggie Newhouse (Owatonna, Minn.). As a team, the Cardinals shot 36.5 percent from the field (23-for-63), with eight 3-pointers, while adding a 1 of 4 showing from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals (0-3 MIAC, 2-3 overall) are back in action on Saturday, when they travel to St. Olaf's Skoglund Center Gym in Northfield, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference showdown against the Oles.
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