Game Summary / GameDay Preview

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Jessica Thone (Woodbury, Minn.) scored a season-high 17 points, but the Saint Mary's University sophomore's effort was not enough, as Saint Benedict handed the Cardinals an 83-56 MIAC setback Wednesday evening.

The Blazers got out of the gate in hurry, scoring the game's first five points and used a 10-2 run to push their lead to 24-11 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. CSB maintained that 13-point lead late in the half, before the Cardinals cut the gap to seven, 35-28, heading into the locker room at the half.

The Cardinals equaled their 28-point output in the second half, but the Blazers were just heating up as CSB — still battling with St. Thomas for the MIAC regular-season title — erupted for 48 second-half points in sealing their 19th win of the season.

Along with Thone's 17 points, the Cardinals also got 11 from Jess Miller (Carver, Minn.), while Heather Gillund led four Blazers in double figures with 17 points.

The loss drops SMU to 9-12 in the MIAC and 11-13 overall, and leaves the Cardinals one game behind Hamline (10-11) and Macalester (10-11) for the sixth and final MIAC playoff spot with one game remaining in the regular season.

The Cardinals close out their regular season on Saturday, heading to St. Peter, Minn., for a 1 p.m. game against playoff-bound Gustavus (14-7 MIAC).