SAINT BONIFACIUS, Minn. — It was a complete team performance on Wednesday as the Saint Mary's women's basketball team (2-1) rolled past Crown College (1-4) 80–36 victory. The Cardinals dictated the pace from the opening tip.
Saint Mary's wasted no time setting the tone, racing out to an 11–0 lead behind back-to-back threes from Lindsey Lettner and Brianna Nusbaum. The points stemmed from the defensive side, forcing the first two possessions of the Polars into turnovers.
The Cardinals pressure continued to force Crown into early turnovers as Ayla Olson's fast-break layup late in the quarter helped push the lead to 21–6 after one.
The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter. Kali Olson knocked down a pair of free throws to open the frame, and Rylie Sternquist added a tip-in and a three-pointer to help stretch the lead even further 28-8 at the 7:11 mark. Saint Mary's owned the glass pulling down 17 rebounds in the quarter alone and turned second-chance opportunities into steady scoring.
By halftime, the Cardinals were firmly in control, leading 39–15.
Saint Mary's put the game out of reach with a huge third quarter, erupting for 26 points while continuing to clamp down on the defensive end. Lettner's early three, a block from Kali Olson, and multiple steals fueled the Cardinals in transition. Ayla Olson's putback and an Emma Mann three in the final seconds capped a dominant stretch that sent Saint Mary's into the fourth with a 65–25 advantage.
The Cardinals kept rolling in the final frame. Nusbaum knocked down a jumper seconds into the quarter, Julia Koch added a putback, and Olson continued to find success in the paint, closing out the 80–36 win with confidence.
Lettner led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including three triples. Nusbaum followed with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals in an all-around standout performance. Koch controlled the boards with a team-high 10 rebounds, while Ayla Olson delivered 11 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
The Cardinals finished with a commanding 55–25 edge on the glass and turned 19 Crown turnovers into 18 points, showcasing their balance and intensity throughout the afternoon. The 36 Polar points was the fewest points allowed for the Cardinals since the 2023-24 season holding Northland to just 30 points.
The Cardinals look ahead to their next opportunity, hosting Bethany Lutheran this Saturday, November 22 at 3:00 p.m.
