ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — It was a tale of two halves for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's basketball team Sunday afternoon against the University of Minnesota-Morris.
 
The Cardinals owned the first half, while the Cougars had the upper hand in the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Fortunately, the Cardinals' dominant first half proved to be enough, as Saint Mary's held off a late UM-Morris rally to post its second win of the season, 68-65 during the second day of the Saint Benedict Quinlivan & Hughes Tip-Off Tournament.
 
The Cardinals, who opened the season with a 72-62 victory over UW-River Falls on Saturday, made it 2-for-2—thanks in large part to a solid first half that gave Saint Mary's a nine-point, 36-27, advantage.
 
UM-Morris whittled away at that nine-point Cardinal cushion, getting as close as one on two separate occasions—the last at 62-61 with 1:56 remaining. Over those final two minutes, however, the Cardinals outscored the Cougars 6-4 to seal the win.
 
Shelby Auseth (Wanamingo, Minn.) and Bridget Pethke (New London, Wis.) were a lethal 1-2 punch for the Cardinal offense, as Auseth netted a game-high 24 points, while Pethke chipped in 19. Auseth also hauled in a team-best nine rebounds and Pethke dished out six assists. The Cardinal duo were named to the all-tournament team, with Pethke selected as tournament MVP.
 
The Cardinals shot 40 percent from the field (21-for-53), while draining six 3-pointers and adding a 20-for-26 effort from the free throw line.
 
UM-Morris—which shot 38 percent from the field (23-for-60) and also drained six treys—put three players in double figures, led by Kendra Wycoff with 16.
 
The Cardinals (2-0 overall) are right back in action on Tuesday, traveling to Eau Claire, Wis., for a 7 p.m. nonconference game against UW-Eau Claire. Saint Mary's kicks off the home portion of its schedule on Friday, hosting UW-Stout in a 7 p.m. contest at the Saint Mary's Gym.