WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's basketball team closed out the regular season the same way the Cardinals opened it — against Gustavus.
And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, the season ended in much the same fashion as it began — with a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback to the Gusties.
Gustavus, ranked No. 18 in the latest WBCA Top 25 and riding a 14-game winning streak — not to mention the league's regular-season champions — outscored Saint Mary's 26-14 in the second quarter and 23-14 in the fourth in dealing SMU a 75-51 season-ending setback.
The Cardinals got a pair of early 3-pointers from
Brooklyn Paulson (Holmen, Wis.) — one of three SMU seniors playing in their final collegiate game — to grab an early 7-4 advantage, only to have Gustavus answer with back-to-back-to-back treys to take the lead for good, 13-7. The two teams would trade baskets in the quarter's waning seconds, as Gustavus took a 15-10 lead into the second stanza.
And it was more of the same from Gustavus in quarter No. 2. The Gusties opened the quarter on a 9-0 run and netted 14 of the first 15 points to extend their lead to 18, 29.11. Saint Mary's got a basket from
Alyssa Coleman (Matteson, Ill.) and a pair of free throws by
Izzy Goettelman (Winona, Minn.) to get within eight, 32-24, but Gustavus would close the quarter by scoring the final nine points to take a 41-24 lead into the locker room at the break.
The Cardinals outscored the Gusties 13-11 in the third quarter, but needing a big four-quarter rally, SMU could only come up with four field goals and a 5-for-6 effort from the free throw line, as the Gusties pulled away in sealing their 15th straight win.
Paulson finished with a team-high 20 points in her collegiate finale, while
Ashley Streveler (Colby, Wis.) — playing in her final game as a Cardinal — chipped in 10 points. As a team, Siant Mary's shot 32.5 percent from the field (13-for-40), with six 3-pointers — three form Paulson, two from Streveler, and one from
Grace Schaffer (Farmington, Minn.). The Cardinals also finished 19 of 26 from the free throw line.
Saint Mary's closes out the season 9-16 overall, including 8-14 in conference play.
The Cardinals close out their 2022-23 season at 9-16 overall, including an 8-14 mark in conference play.
