WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s (Minn.) University women’s basketball team pulled away in the first half Thursday and went on to a 72-51 nonconference victory over Lawrence University at Saint Mary’s Gym.
Brandi Blattner posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to pace Saint Mary’s (8-3). Sam Jones also scored 17 points for the Cardinals.
Leah Reeves poured in a game-high 19 points for Lawrence (2-7), and she pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Aubrey Scott added eight points for the Vikings, and Olivia Hoesley and Grace Minogue had seven points apiece.
Saint Mary’s pulled out to a 19-4 lead just five minutes into the game, and the Cardinals led 24-13 after the first quarter. Minogue scored the first five points of the second quarter for the Vikings to trim the lead to 25-18.
Saint Mary’s rebounded to stretch the lead to 44-27 at the half. The Cardinals led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but consecutive baskets from Shonell Benjamin, Scott and Reeves cut the margin to 58-43 after three periods.
Nicole Cummins then drained a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to pull Lawrence to 58-46. The Cardinals scored the game’s next six points, and Lawrence didn’t get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.