WINONA, Minn. — Talk about impressive early season resumes—and mirror images.
 
The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team entered its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown with Bethel boasting a perfect 2-0 conference record, a 6-1 overall mark—and riding a five-game winning streak.
 
The Royals, meanwhile, stepped onto the Saint Mary's Gym floor also owning a 2-0 MIAC record, a 6-1 overall mark—and riding a five-game winning streak.
 
And when the two teams squared off Wednesday evening at the Saint Mary's Gym, two things were certain—a streak was going to be broken—and a team was going to suffer its first conference loss.
 
Unfortunately for coach Brent Pollari, it was the Cardinals who drew the short straw.
 
Despite a Herculean effort by Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.)—who scored a game- and career-high 28 points—the Cardinals could not keep pace with the Royals down the stretch, as Bethel handed Saint Mary's a 69-56 setback.
 
Bethel had the upper hand early, leading the entire first quarter—including closing on a 6-0 run to take an 18-10 advantage.
 
Playing from behind, however, was nothing new to the Cardinals, who promptly scored 11 unanswered points, and 14 of the next 15—including 3-pointers from Blattner and Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn.) and seven consecutive points from Brittney Flom (Kenyon, Minn.)—to take a 24-21 lead late in the second stanza.
 
Bethel would close out the half scoring six of the final eight points to take a one-point, 27-26 cushion into the locker room at the half.
 
The Royals maintained the lead for all but 30 seconds of the third quarter—but thanks to Blattner's amazing 10-minute run, the Cardinals trailed by just three, 45-42 heading into the game's final 10 minutes.
 
Blattner, who netted nine points in the opening 20 minutes, stole the show in the game's third 10-minute period, pouring in 15 of the Cardinals' 16 third-quarter points—the lone exception, a free throw by Kirsten Keefe (Chatfield, Minn.).
 
The sophomore, however, could not duplicate that effort in the fourth quarter, as Bethel slowly pulled away, building its lead to as many as 11 on three occasions, before taking its biggest lead of the game, 67-54, with just over a minute remaining—and the Cardinals never recovered.
 
Along with Blattner's 28-point effort—Saint Mary's highest, single-game offensive output since Bridget Pethke scored 32 against St. Olaf on Jan. 29, 2014—the Cardinals also got nine points and seven assists from Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.), and seven points from Flom.
 
Kalli Zimmerman netted 21 points and Shanni Moorse chipped in 10 for the Royals.
 
The Cardinals (2-1 MIAC, 6-2 overall) are right back in action—and right back on their home floor at the Saint Mary's Gym—on Saturday, hosting Gustavus in a 1 p.m. conference matchup.