WINONA, Minn. - On Saturday afternoon, the Saint Mary's women's basketball team (9-11) hosted St. Scholastica (11-10) for a Pink Game sponsored by Play4Kay! The Cardinals played with a purpose, and it was evident. They brought the energy and secured a 71-62 victory over the Saints on their home court.

In the game, three Cardinals set new career highs, while one recorded a season high when it mattered most. Rylies Sternquist matched her career high with 20 points, also a team best, adding two steals and seven rebounds, including an impressive 11-13 from the free-throw line. Julia Koch also set a career high with 17 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Emma Mann scored a career-best eight points, shooting over 75-percent from the floor. 

Alyssa Coleman added a season-high seven points, all coming in the paint with two steals on the day.

The Cardinals started the quarter strong with Nusbaum scoring the first points and a subsequent three-pointer by Koch, giving them an early 5-0 lead. St. Scholastica responded with a layup and a three-pointer, narrowing the score to 7-5. The Cardinals maintained their lead with Koch and Mann hitting key three-pointers, closing the quarter at 23-18 in favor of the Cardinals.

St. Scholastica outscored Saint Mary's 15-9 in the second quarter in a slow start for the Cardinals. 

The quarter began with a series of fouls and missed shots, including Kali Olson's foul and missed jumper for Saint Mary's. Sternquist scored two free throws at the 7:30 mark, extending Saint Mary's lead to 25-19. However, St. Scholastica responded with a 7-0 run that tied the game at 26.

Coleman briefly regained the lead with a layup and a free throw, but in the final minute secured a 33-32 lead for St. Scholastica by the end of the quarter.

To open the third quarter, the Cardinals started with a series of missed shots, but Nusbaum broke the streak with a successful three-pointer at 7:30, giving them a brief lead. St. Scholastica responded quickly with a three-pointer to regain the advantage. 

Sternquist and Olson contributed key plays, with Sternquist's layup and free throw putting Saint Mary's back ahead at 6:12. However, St. Scholastica managed a short scoring run knocking down three-pointers, though Saint Mary's tied it again with a jumper by Olson at 1:20. 

The quarter ended with Nusbaum nailing a layup, securing a slight edge for Saint Mary's as the third quarter concluded with an even score of 45-45.

In the tight game, the Cardinals dug deep in the final minutes. At 9:15, The Saints hit a three-pointer to give the team a 48-46 lead, but Mann quickly responded with an and-one layup and a free throw to reclaim the lead for Saint Mary's. 

A key moment occurred when Saint Mary's went on an 8-0 run, extending the lead to 56-48, highlighted by baskets from Koch, Coleman, and Mann. St. Scholastica attempted a comeback, but Saint Mary's maintained their advantage, with Sternquist sealing the game with free throws in the final minutes, securing a 71-62 victory.

It was a successful team win at home and this win splits the series against the Saints and snaps a four game losing spell.

The Cardinals return to home court on Wednesday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m. taking on the Augsburg Auggies.