WINONA, Minn. — The last time the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team entertained Gustavus at the Saint Mary's Gym, the Cardinals erupted for 90 points in coasting to a 90-58 victory in a conference-playoff quarterfinal.
The two teams squared off again on Wednesday, and the Cardinals fell eight points shy of reaching that 90-point barrier—but more important to coach
Brent Pollari, the end result was the same.
For the second straight game,
Micaela Meredith (Bloomington, Minn.) put together a career night, as the senior poured in a game-high 23 points in leading Saint Mary's to an 82-74 victory over the Gusties in the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.
Gustavus got out of the blocks quickly, scoring nine of the game's first 11 points for an early 9-2 lead. The Cardinals, however, answered with a 13-2 run of their own to take a 15-11 lead. Gustavus regained the momentum—and the lead—outscoring Saint Mary's 10-2 over the final three minutes of the first quarter to grab a 21-17 lead after 10 minutes of play.
The second quarter was all Cardinals, as they outscored GAC 18-9 to take a five-point, 35-30 lead into halftime.
Saint Mary's maintained that five-point advantage after the third quarter, as each team scored 21 third-quarter points, and the Cardinals iced the win—their fifth straight to open the season—by outscoring the Gusties 26-23 over the game's final 20 minutes.
Along with Meredith's game- and career-high 23 points—which including a near-perfect 13-for-14 effort from the free throw line—the Cardinals also got 19 points and eight rebounds from
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) and 12 points from
Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.).
As a team, the Cardinals shot 57 percent from the field, draining 25 of 47 field goal attempts—including a 6-for-14 effort from behind the 3-point line. Saint Mary's also added a 26-for-36 showing from the free throw line, and outrebounded the Gusties 35-30.
Mikayla Miller netted 22 points and Miranda Rice chipped in 10 in the losing effort for Gustavus (0-1 MIAC, 3-2 overall).
The Cardinals (1-0 MIAC, 5-0 overall)—who are 5-0 for the second straight season—return to action on Saturday, hosting Macalester in a 3 p.m. conference contest at the Saint Mary's Gym.
