APPLETON, Wis. — A big third quarter led the St. Mary’s (Minn.) University women’s basketball team to a 73-49 non-conference victory over Lawrence University on Wednesday at Alexander Gymnasium.
Haley Trom came off the bench to lead the Cardinals (9-1) with 15 points, and Micaela Meredith posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Lawrence’s Fanita Robins came off the bench to record her second double-figure scoring game of the season with 10 points. Nicole Cummins added nine points for the Vikings (0-9) as she went 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Liz Arco picked up six points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals for Lawrence.
St. Mary’s led 31-20 at the half, and the Cardinals were up 12 when they went on a run midway through the third period. St. Mary’s got back-to-back 3-pointers from Alexa Huisman as part of an 11-0 run to take a 46-22 lead.
The Cardinals later connected on four of five shots in one stretch to push their lead to 58-30. St. Mary’s, which outscored Lawrence 27-12 in the third period, would lead 58-32 after three.
Lawrence never got closer than 20 points in the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals got off to a fast start and led 19-6 after the first quarter, but Lawrence battled back in the second. The Vikings went on a 12-3 run to start the quarter as Cummins hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Arco, Aubrey Scott and Sammi Jo Nixon all picked up baskets during that stretch.
Lawrence trimmed the lead to 22-18 after a Cummins 3-pointer, but the Cardinals responded with seven consecutive points and would lead 31-20 at the half.
Lawrence returns to Midwest Conference action on Saturday when the Vikings host Grinnell College.