WINONA, Minn. — If Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball coach Brent Pollari was concerned that his Cardinals may show some signs of rust coming off its 18-day layoff, the Cardinals put him at ease early.
 
Very early.
 
Saint Mary's scored 19 of the game's first 23 points and never looked back, as the Cardinals closed out the 2016 portion of their schedule with a convincing 72-51 nonconference win over Lawrence Thursday evening at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The Cardinals' Brigette Audette (Big Lake, Minn.) scored on their first possession—and Saint Mary's would not relinquish the lead, building its biggest lead of the opening quarter at 19-4—before settling for an 11-point, 24-13 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
 
The Cardinals continued to dominate the visiting Vikings—pushing their lead to as many as 19 in the second quarter—and carried a 44-27 cushion into the locker room at the break.
 
Lawrence scored the final six points of the third quarter to close the Saint Mary's gap to 15, 58-43, heading into the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals quickly answered, scoring the first six points of the final quarter and never trailed by less than 18 the rest of the way.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) scored 17 points and added 11rebounds for her third straight double-double—and sixth of the season—while Sam Jones (White Bear Lake Minn.) chipped in 17 points and six boards.
 
The Cardinals shot just 37 percent from the field (30-for-80), but collected 32 of their 59 rebounds on the offensive end. Lawrence, meanwhile, also shot 37 percent from the field, but attempted just 59 field goals, compared to Saint Mary's 80.
 
Leah Reeves scored a game-high 19 points, but was the only Viking to finish in double figures.
 
The Cardinals (8-3 overall) are back on their home court Wednesday, as Saint Mary's returns to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 7 p.m. showdown with Macalester.