WINONA, Minn. -  The Saint Mary's women's basketball (2-2) team held their home opener facing Luther College on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals would fall to the undefeated Norse (4-0) 90-59. 
 
The Norse got on the board first and held a one score advantage over the Cardinals for the first five minutes of action. Rylie Sternquist hit an early three and Julia Koch got on the board right away, down 7-5. Brianna Nusbaum and Maggie Newhouse hit late first quarter jumpers to bring the deficit to eight, 22-14.
 
Saint Mary's had a dominant second period performance, out-scoring Luther by five. They opened play with a three from Newhouse. The team began to feed their post players Kali Olson, who netted back-to-back buckets and Sternquist who got the small run started. The Cardinals finished the quarter on an 11-5 run led by junior Lindsey Lettner with five of the 11. 
 
The Cardinals were down six at the half, 41-35.
 
Nusbaum hit a deep three pointer on the Cardinals first possession and Olson earned a steal leading to a fast break layup for Nusbaum, 48-42. The team went cold after the hot start and did not find a basket for the next four minutes only increasing the Norse lead. 
 
Lettner and Olson netted the final four points of the quarter but dug themselves into the largest deficit of the night at 14, 64-50.
 
It was a silent quarter for the Cardinals only connecting on nine points to close out the game. Luther shot 50 percent from the field and behind the arch to extend the lead to more than 20 points. The Cardinals ran out of time to fight back.
 
Victoria Marial and Jaiden Thompson each get their first points of the game for the Cardinals in the final minutes.
 
The Cardinals leading scoring was Nusbaum with 13 points shooting .50 percent from the field. Olson with three assists and a steal. 
 
The Cardinals would fall to the tough Norse team after an even performance in the first half.
 
The Cardinals will play their next game after the holiday break back at Saint Mary's Gymnasium on December 4th for a 7:30 p.m. tip off against the Wildcats of St. Catherine for the first round of MIAC play.