OSHKOSH, Wis. – The season came to a close for the Saint Mary's women's basketball team in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Friday night. Making their first tournament appearance since 2014, Saint Mary's (20-9, 13-5) fell to Wisconsin Lutheran (24-5, 16-1), 65-47, in the neutral-site matchup in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The loss marked the end of a memorable season for the Cardinals, who returned to the national tournament for the first time in more than a decade.
Wisconsin Lutheran entered the tournament as one of the top shooting teams in NCAA Division III and showed that efficiency throughout the game. The Warriors, who came into the tournament ranked 14th nationally in field goal percentage, also clinched their 14th 20-plus win season in program history with the victory.
Despite forcing 15 turnovers and recording 12 steals, Saint Mary's could not overcome Wisconsin Lutheran's 50-30 advantage on the glass.
Kali Olson led the Cardinals on the boards with a standout performance, grabbing 11 rebounds, including nine on the defensive end, while adding eight points and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Hadley Sammons paced Saint Mary's offensively with 13 points off the bench, knocking down three three-pointers while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc, and adding three steals.
Brianna Nusbaum finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Ayla Olson contributed six points and three steals.
Saint Mary's opened the game with strong energy, building a 15-9 lead after the first quarter. Rylie Sternquist tied the game early with a layup, and the Cardinals capitalized on Wisconsin Lutheran turnovers throughout the period. Nusbaum and Lindsey Lettner each connected from beyond the arc, with Nusbaum's three coming off an assist from Julia Koch.
Ayla Olson extended the lead to 10-4 midway through the quarter, helping the Cardinals carry a six-point advantage into the second.
The Warriors shifted momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Saint Mary's 25-13 in the period. Nusbaum briefly helped the Cardinals regain the lead with a pair of free throws, and Kali Olson added a layup to keep the game within reach. Sammons later drained a key 3-pointer, assisted by Sternquist, cutting the deficit to two with 4:30 remaining in the half. The Warriors responded late, capped by a three at the buzzer that sent Wisconsin Lutheran into halftime with a 34-28 lead.
Saint Mary's opened the third quarter with a defensive stop that led to a fast-break layup from Nusbaum. Ayla Olson followed with a transition jumper to pull the Cardinals closer, but Wisconsin Lutheran answered with consistent scoring in the paint to extend its lead. The Warriors pushed the margin to 48-36 by the end of the third.
In the fourth quarter, Saint Mary's attempted to rally behind a layup from Kali Olson and a pair of free throws midway through the period. Lettner added a defensive steal late in the game, but Wisconsin Lutheran continued to find timely baskets. The Warriors outscored the Cardinals 17-11 in the final quarter to seal the 65-47 win.
After the game, Saint Mary's head coach Courtney Shelton became emotional while reflecting on the season.
"I am so proud of this team," Shelton said, pausing as she became choked up. "What they accomplished this year alone is unbelievable. This group is special."
The game also marked the final collegiate appearance for lone senior Lindsey Lettner, who reflected on her time with the Cardinals and the future of the program.
"Coming to Saint Mary's was the best decision of my life," Lettner said. "I told those young girls in the locker room that they can do so much next year. I am excited to see what they can do."
With a 20-win season, a return to the NCAA Tournament, and a young core returning, the Cardinals close the 2025-26 campaign with momentum heading into next year.
