Game Summary

WINONA, Minn. — With just one game remaining before the opening of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season, Saint Mary's University women's basketball coach Shawn Stimmel was looking for a complete-game from his Cardinals when they took the floor Tuesday evening against Martin Luther.

What he got was a complete defensive effort.

The jury is still out on the offensive performance.

"We've played three games, and all three have been very similar — the defense plays very well, and the offense has its moments," said Stimmel, whose team rallied from a 25-24 halftime deficit to beat the Knights 52-42 in the Cardinals' home opener at the SMU Gym. "I was very pleased with the way we came out and played in the second half. I think everyone stepped up their game a bit over those last 20 minutes."

And the Cardinals needed it.

After shooting just 33 percent from the field in the first half, the Cardinals' offensive touch came to life in the second half — while the defense remained its same, stingy self — as SMU knocked down 10 of 22 shots, while holding Martin Luther to just seven field goals and 17 second-half points en route to their second win in three games.

"Defensively, we are playing extremely well — I couldn't be happier with our defensive performance," said Stimmel, whose team has not allowed more than 52 points in any of its three games this season. "But we've got to do a better job on the offensive end."

The Cardinals led by seven, 24-17, with 4:00 remaining in the first half, before Martin Luther used an 8-0 run to go into the locker room with its only lead of the half, 25-24.

"I thought we shot the ball much better in the second half," said Stimmel, whose team opens conference play Nov. 29 at St. Thomas. "Hopefully we can keep that going."