MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team started fast—and finished faster—Wednesday evening in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Augsburg.
 
The start: The Cardinals scored the game's first six points, and 11 of the opening 13.
 
The finish: The Cardinals netted 15 of the game's final 20 points—including 4 of 8 free throws in the final minute.
 
Thanks to that start-finish one-two punch, the Cardinals pushed their winning streak to five straight with an 81-79 conference win over the Auggies at Si Melby Hall.
 
Despite the fast start, the Cardinals managed just a five-point, 19-14, lead after the game's opening quarter. Saint Mary's knocked down the first basket of the second quarter, but Augsburg responded by scoring eight of the next 11 points to make it a two-point game, 24-22.
 
Augsburg would pull even 33-33 and the game would be tied twice more, including 38-38—thanks to a Carlee Kobow layup as the half expired.
 
A basket by Ellie Schwartz gave Augsburg its first lead of the game, 53-51 midway through the third quarter, and another Schwartz bucket pushed the Auggie advantage to four, 55-51. Saint Mary's would close the quarter on a 10-7 run to cut the deficit to one, 62-61 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Augsburg had the upper hand early in the final stanza, building their lead to a game-high eight, 74-68, with just over five minutes remaining. From there, the Cardinals took charge, using a 10-2 burst to knot the game at 76-76 with 1:32 remaining.
 
Augsburg's Arianna Jones drained a 3-pointer to give the Auggies a brief, 79-76 cushion, but Saint Mary's would knock down 4 of 8 free throws down the stretch—while the Auggies failed to convert on their final two possessions—to seal the Cardinal win.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals, scoring 24 points and adding 12 rebounds en route to her seventh double-double of the season and 16^th of her collegiate career. Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.) chipped in 17 points and Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn.) added 16 for the Cardinals, who shot 48 percent  from the field (27-for-56) with seven 3-pointers.
 
Aiza Wilson led five Auggie players in double figures, scoring 18 points. Augsburg shot 45 percent from the field (29-for-65) with five 3-pointers, and added a 16-for-24 effort from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals (5-2 MIAC, 11-3 overall) are back in action—and back on the road— on Saturday, traveling to St. Joseph, Minn., for a 3 p.m. conference showdown with Saint Benedict.