ST. PAUL, Minn.---After several weeks off of competition over the holiday break, the St. Catherine University basketball team knew it would have to come out strong to take out the top team in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Coming into Wednesday's contest Saint Mary's University had suffered just one loss all season and boasted a perfect 4-0 conference record. Despite holding a solid nine-point lead with less than six minuets to play and battling the Cardinals all night, the Wildcats came up just short in the final minute suffering a heartbreaking 71-67 loss Wednesday evening in the Butler Center. 

After shooting just 25.6 percent in the first half, the Wildcats turned around and made seven 3-pointers in the second half and finished the game 13-of-14 from the free throw line to remain close with Cardinals throughout the game. The Wildcats allowed the Cardinals to score 48 points in the paint and 15 points off turnovers. Saint mary's also held the advantage on the board 44-36. 

The Wildcats started off the opening quarter with a 7-2 run through the first 5:39 before allowing the Cardinals to pull within two after 10 minutes of play. In the second quarter, the game remained close until the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run in just over four minutes to pull ahead by six points. The Wildcats pulled back within two before finding themselves down 31-27 at the break. 

The Cardinals quickly built their lead in the third quarter and were ahead by 11 points with 3:35 left. Then, the Wildcats drained 3-pointers on three consecutive trips down the court to make it 47-45 at the 2:18 mark. The Cardinals pulled ahead again by four before the Wildcats closed with a 5-1 run in the final 58 seconds to even the score at 50-50 with one quarter remaining. 

The fourth quarter opened in favor of the Cardinals before the Wildcats stormed out to a nine point lead with 5:33 remaining in the game. The Cardinals then closed out the game with a 15-4 run to take a 69-67 lead with 1:20 remaining. The Wildcats had two opportunities to on the offensive end before turning the ball over with 21 seconds remaining. Bridget Pethke then made two free throws to close out the game for the Cardinal win. 

Meg Clark (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) came out strong for the Wildcats as she matched her previous career-high of 14 points in the first half alone. The sophomore finished the game with a team-high and new career-best 17 points. She was 7-of-15 from the field with three shots made from beyond the arc. She also pulled in five rebounds and recorded two assists, a block and a steal. 

Twin sister Audra Clark (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) came alive in the second half to finish with 15 points after scoring just two in the opening 20 minutes. She knocked down two 3-pointers and went 5-for-5 from line. Audra Clark led the team with nine rebounds and five assists, while also collecting a block and two steals. 

Mari Lee (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) shot 50 percent from the field with two shots from downtown to finish with a season-high 14 points. Shauna Horsch (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) also contributed significantly with 13 points thanks to making three shots from beyond the arc, while Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) picked up six points, eight rebounds and a team-high three steals and two blocks. 

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Brandi Blattner who shot 10-of-16 for 27 points with 12 reboudns for the double-double. Haley Trom came off the bench for 15 points, while Micaela Meredith scored 10 points with six rebounds.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 7-4 on the season and 2-3 in the MIAC. They return to action with another home conference contest Saturday against Macalester College slated for 3 p.m. in the Butler Center. 

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