WINONA, Minn. — The first time the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Carleton women's basketball teams squared off, the Cardinals got a last second-basket from Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.) in overtime to lift the Cardinals to a 61-60 victory.
 
There would be no need for overtime—or last-second heroics—the second time around.
 
Which was not good news for coach Brent Pollari and the Cardinals.
 
Saint Mary's suffered through a nearly nine-minute scoreless drought through most of the first quarter and into the second—and the Cardinals never recovered in falling to the visiting Knights 65-48 at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The two teams traded a pair of baskets for a 4-4 deadlock, and, unfortunately for Saint Mary's, the next time they scored—on a basket by Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn.) at 7:37 of the second quarter—the Cardinals were staring at an 18-6 deficit.
 
Carleton would push its lead to as many as 18 before settling for a 29-16 advantage heading into the locker room at the half.
 
The Cardinals could not find their shooting touch over the game's first 20 minutes, shooting just 21 percent from the field (6-for-28)—including a 2 of 17 showing in the first half.
 
And things did not get much better over the game's final 20 minutes, as Carleton against build leads to as many as 18 in the third quarter, and carried a 13-point, 44-31 edge into the final quarter—a quarter the Knights outscored Saint Mary's 19-17 to secure their fourth straight win.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) netted a team-leading 13 points, while Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.) added 11, and Sam Jones (White Bear Lake, Minn.) chipped in nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.
 
The Cardinals, who finished going 19-for-62 from the field (31 percent), struggled from behind the 3-point line, making just 2 of 21 3-point attempts. Carleton, meanwhile, shot 51 percent from the field (28-for-55) with four treys, and made 5 of their 6 free throws.
 
Samantha Cooke poured in a game-high 21 points and Cece Leone chipped in 19 for the Knights, who improved to 4-7 in the MIAC and 6-12 overall.
 
The Cardinals (6-5 MIAC, 12-6 overall) hit the road on Saturday, traveling to St. Peter, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference showdown against league-leading and unbeaten Gustavus.