ST. PAUL, Minn. — To start the big week for the Cardinals, the Saint Mary's women's basketball team (19-6, 13-4 MIAC) battled until the final horn but came up just short in a 77-72 thriller against the Hamline Pipers (18-6, 12-5 MIAC) Wednesday night at Hutton Arena.
Ayla Olson delivered another standout performance with 25 points, six steals, and seven rebounds, while her sister Kali Olson matched her with a career-high 25 points and powered her way to a double-double with 13 boards.
The Cardinals came out firing. Ayla Olson set the tone just 54 seconds in with a jumper, then calmly sank two free throws to spark a 4-0 start. Her energy fueled an early 11-8 edge, and Nusbaum buried a three at the 5:04 mark to stretch the lead to 16-8.
Hamline responded late in the quarter, however, using a three to grab a narrow 21-18 advantage after one.
Saint Mary's answered in the second. A 10-3 run, highlighted by strong finishes from Kali Olson, swung momentum back to the Cardinals. Ayla Olson knocked down a clutch three with 2:50 to play in the half, and steady free-throw shooting, including late points from Sternquist, helped Saint Mary's head into the locker room with a 39-33 lead.
The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas in the third. Sternquist came up with a steal just 22 seconds in, leading to a jumper assisted by Ayla Olson. Kali Olson controlled the glass and converted second-chance opportunities, while Nusbaum delivered at the line to keep Hamline at bay. Sternquist's three-pointer at the 2:10 mark, assisted by Julia Koch, pushed the lead to double digits, and Saint Mary's held a 55-50 advantage entering the fourth.
But the Pipers had one final push.
Ayla Olson did everything she could down the stretch, burying six straight free throws to keep it tight. Lindsey Lettner drilled a clutch three with 15 seconds remaining to pull the Cardinals within two, but Hamline sealed it at the line in the closing seconds.
Now, the stakes are high. Saint Mary's will need a win on Saturday to maintain its No. 2 seed positioning heading into the MIAC playoffs. The Cardinals will face Gustavus Adolphus for their last regular season game of the season in St. Peter for a 1:00 p.m. tip off.
