MOUNT VERNON, Iowa. - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team closed out their opening weekend at the Cornell Classic on Sunday afternoon and faced Coe College. The Cardinals would fall to the Coehawks 76-69 and split their weekend in Iowa. 

The Cardinals came out firing on all cylinders with four separate individuals jumping into the scoring column. Freshman Brianna Busbaum hauled in the first layup and landed seven points early in the first quarter. Junior Lindsey Lettner would hit the first three of the game to take an early 5-0 lead.

Rylie Sternquist and Victoria Marial netted post moves and collected five of the six offensive rebounds to help the team shoot (.47) percent from the field for a high scoring first quarter. To cap off the successful first quarter, Nusbaum created a steal and a fast break layup before the end of the quarter to extend the lead 21-14 without ever trailing. 

The lead slowed as the Coehawks forced turnovers and the Cardinals began to foul early. The Coehawks converted at the free throw line going 5-6. Breacia Carter got on the board after slicing through the lane for a one on one opportunity and drew the game within one, 26-25.

Marial netted another layup and Maggie Newhouse nailed a three before the half to tie the game at 30.

The Cardinals were within a basket of trading points to open the third quarter action. Sternquist and Nusbaum halted an eight point swing by the Coehawks with a basket and a steal.

Coe forced a timeout after taking their largest lead of the game 49-39 after tallying two turnovers with three minutes to go in the third quarter. Senior Alyssa Coleman jumped out of the timeout netting two free throws.

Nusbaum drilled a shot at the horn to get the Cardinals within six going into the final quarter.

The Cardinals chipped away at the ten point deficit after a Julia Koch three pointer and two layups from Nusbaum spark a 7-0 run.

The Coehawks responded with a 6-0 run themselves and were ahead by nine points with four minutes remaining in regulation, 65-56. Under two minutes, Olson, Carter, and Lettner each ahul in a basket to get within six, but fell short from the free throw line late only nailing one of five.

Despite a late three by Lettner to get the game within four with 11 seconds left, the Cardinals would fall to the Coehawks.

The Cardinals are back in action Tuesday, November 19th for a 6 p.m. tip off at Northland.