WINONA, Minn.  - Wednesday night, the Saint Mary's women's basketball team (3-2) began conference play against the visiting St. Catherine's Wildcats. In a come from behind game, the Cardinals secured the first conference win 73-63 on home court.
 
Kali Olson and Rylie Sternquist would get the Cardinals on the board with a layup a piece, making the score 4-3.
 
The game remained tight, with the score swinging back and forth. A free throw by Olson brought the score to 15-10 as the Cardinals looked to close the 5-point gap before the end of the first quarter. However, the Wildcats extended their lead to 21-12 as the quarter came to a close.
 
Brianna Nusbaum opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, aiming to trim the deficit, but, much like the end of the first, the Wildcats continued to hit their shots. Five minutes into the second, off a steal, Lindsey Lettner scored her first points of the game with a layup, cutting the lead to seven.
 
Four minutes later, Lettner sank a three-pointer, raising her point total to seven and bringing the score to 40-32. The quarter would conclude with the Wildcats leading 44-32. At halftime, Olson and Lettner led the Cardinals with seven points each, while Olson also topped the team in rebounds with six.
 
The Cardinals came out strong in the third quarter, energized and determined. Olson scored an two early layups, and Julia Koch followed with a three-pointer, cutting the lead to single digits.
 
Emma Mann drilled a three-pointer, followed by another from Lettner, cutting the lead to just two points. With two minutes remaining in the third, Lettner hit a jumper to tie the game, and a minute later, she knocked down another three to give the Cardinals their first lead, bringing her total to 17 points. The quarter would end with the Cardinals ahead 58-54, carrying all the momentum into the final frame.
 
The Cardinals' intensity carried into the fourth quarter. Olson, Lettner, and Koch each scored the first three buckets for the team, putting the score at 64-61. Nusbaum then added a three-pointer to extend the lead to six points. Sternquist and Alyssa Coleman followed with layups, pushing the score to 71-61.
 
After a final bucket from the Wildcats, the game would end 73-63 with the Cardinals on top to open conference play undefeated!
 
Lettner led the team with a career high 21 points with three assists, Olson would be behind her with 15 points and seven rebounds. Rounding it out is Koch who had a career high 10 points and three assists. Nusbaum led the team in assists with eight.
 
The Cardinals will be heading up to Duluth, Minnesota to continue conference play against the College of St. Scholastica at 3 p.m.