MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's women's basketball team (18-5, 12-3 MIAC) put on a defensive clinic and an offensive showcase in an 88–43 road win over Augsburg (5-17, 2-13 MIAC) at Si Melby Hall, forcing 21 turnovers and turning them into 47 points. In a true team effort, nine different Cardinals found the scoring column in the lopsided victory.
Ayla Olson paced the Cardinals with 18 points while adding five steals, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Kali Olson chipped in 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Brianna Nusbaum matched that 14-point mark and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Alexis Kube rounded out the top scorers with a career best 12 points and seven rebounds as Saint Mary's controlled the glass and the tempo.
The Cardinals jumped out fast, building a 26–10 advantage after one quarter behind strong defensive pressure and quick-strike offense. Ayla Olson sparked the early run with a string of layups and a free throw, while Saint Mary's feasted on Augsburg turnovers and dominated the paint for 20 first-quarter points.
Momentum carried into the second quarter as Kali Olson scored inside off an Emma Mann assist at 9:20, and Julia Koch finished a fast-break layup at 7:47 as the Cardinals continued to run. Augsburg struggled to keep up with Saint Mary's transition attack, and the Cardinals entered halftime comfortably ahead, 47–23.
Saint Mary's blew the game open in the third quarter with a 30-point explosion.
Kali Olson fueled the surge with steals and fast-break finishes, while Nusbaum knocked down key free throws to keep the scoring rolling. Defensive pressure forced 11 Augsburg turnovers in the quarter, and Ingrid Beaumont capped the frame with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Cardinals a commanding 77–33 lead.
The Cardinals cruised through the final quarter, with Kube converting an early layup off a Koch assist and later finishing a three-point play to extend the margin. Saint Mary's stayed locked in defensively and continued to share the scoring load, closing out a dominant 88–43 win powered by depth, defense, and nine Cardinals on the scoreboard.
The team will be back in action this Saturday, Feb. 14 hosting St. Scholastica for the first time for a special senior day at 1:00 p.m.
