WINONA, Minn. — It was a good news, bad news kind of day for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Alexa Huisman (Adrian, Minn.).
 
The good news: Huisman enjoyed the best statistical day of her collegiate career Saturday afternoon, as the senior poured in a career-high 24 points against Winona State.
 
The bad news: Huisman's career effort does not officially count—due to the fact that Saturday's contest against Winona State was an exhibition contest.
 
And, despite Huisman's sizzling offensive showing, the Cardinals came up short against the Warriors, as Winona State scored the game's first seven points and never relinquished the lead in handing Saint Mary's a 74-67 setback at McCown Gym.
 
Fueled by their game-opening seven-point run, the Warrior closed the first quarter boasting at an 11-point, 23-12 advantage. Saint Mary's found its rhythm in the second quarter, cutting the Warrior lead to four one two separate occasions—including 34-30 with 3:17 remaining on a basket by Abby Winter (Winona, Minn.). Winona State answered, however, scoring 11 of the final 17 points to carry a 45-36 cushion into the locker room at the half.
 
Huisman was the offensive sparkplug for the Cardinals in the first half, posting 14 points—thanks to a 4 of 8 showing from behind the 3-point line and a pair of free throws—while Winter chipped in 11 points in the game's opening 20 minutes.
 
Huisman continued her torrid shooting from behind the arc in the third quarter, tossing in two more 3-pointers and another pair of free throws, but the Cardinals could not cut into the Warriors' halftime advantage, and headed into the game's final 10 minutes down by 10, 59-49.
 
And what a final 10 minutes it proved to be.
 
The Cardinals used a quarter-opening 14-6 run to cut the deficit to two, 65-63, with 4:43 remaining in regulation. Over those final four-plus minutes, however, it was all Winona State, as the Warriors scored eight unanswered points to make it a 10-point game, 73-63, with just over one minute remaining.
 
Winter joined Huisman in double figures, scoring 17 points and adding a team-high six rebounds. As a team, the Cardinals shot 42 percent from the field (24-for-57)—including 11 3-pointers—while adding a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals officially kick off their season on Nov. 15, when they entertain Martin Luther in a 7:30 p.m. nonconference game at the Saint Mary's Gym.