WINONA, Minn. - This Tuesday, February 25th, the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team will compete in the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinals for the first time in two years. The Cardinals (13-11) secured the No. 6 seed and will travel to No. 3 seed Hamline University (18-7) in the MIAC tournament at 8:00 p.m.

The Cardinals are coming off their best season since 2018-19, finishing with a 13-11 record after failing to earn a single conference win last season. Under first year head coach Courtney Shelton, they have secured 11 conference victories this year.

"We are very excited to be competing in the MIAC Playoffs!" Said Shelton. "We have been playing great basketball in the month of February and we hope to carry that momentum over into our game on Tuesday. Reaching this milestone is a huge achievement for our program and a testament to the growth and commitment we've shown from day one." 

The team has won their last five games and is aiming to keep their season going tomorrow.

The Pipers won the only regular season matchup between the two squads in January. 

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Tickets for the quarterfinal games are on sale with the link provided. Tickets for the semifinals will be available to the general public at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26. All tickets for the 2025 MIAC Playoffs will be sold and purchased online via HomeTown Ticketing. 

Tuesday's two quarterfinal winners will advance to Thursday's semifinals, where No. 1 Bethel and No. 2 Gustavus will host. The bracket will re-seed following the first round, matching up the lowest remaining seed against the top-seeded Royals, while the Gusties will welcome the higher seed to St. Peter.

The semifinal winners will meet on Saturday, March 1, in the 2025 MIAC Women's Basketball Playoff championship game. The game is tentatively scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The MIAC Playoff champion will receive the postseason championship plaque and the Conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.