ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – As has been the case each of the last two games, cold shooting continued to haunt the College of Saint Benedict basketball team Wednesday night.
 
In its final MIAC game of 2018, Saint Benedict had just eight first-half field goals, and finished the night with 15 in a 77-51 home loss to Saint Mary's. CSB heads into its two-week break 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the MIAC.
 
Saint Mary's (6-3, 3-1) led 7-2 early, but Maddie Schmitz hit a three to cut the gap to 9-5. Megan Thompson scored on a fast break late in the quarter, and Shae Olsen scored to end the quarter and cut Saint Mary's lead to eight, 17-9. The Cardinals pushed their lead to double digits early in the second, but Thompson scored and McKenzie Holgate hit a three to get back within 10, 27-17, midway through the quarter. A three from Thompson made it a 12-point game late in the quarter, but SMU had two late baskets to take a 38-22 halftime lead.
 
Saint Mary's went on an 8-1 run in the first three minutes of the second half, and pushed its lead to 30 late in the third quarter. A layup from Breanna Gates at the 5:10 mark and a three from Olsen in the final 10 seconds of the quarter were the team's only two field goals in the third, and the Cardinals led 62-35 heading into the fourth.
 
Olsen hit another three, and Thompson and Sidney Schiffler scored in quick succession, but Saint Mary's was able to maintain its lead through the end of the game.
 
Thompson finished with 12 points to pace CSB, which shot 28.3 percent from the field. Olsen had eight points and Gates and Alex Johnson both had four rebounds. Saint Benedict went 16-for-24 from the line and had 29 rebounds and 20 turnovers. Fifteen of those turnovers came in the first half.
 
Rachel Kedl led Saint Mary's with 14 points and eight rebounds and Brandi Blattner added 12 points. Kirsten Keefe had eight assists. The Cardinals shot 51.6 percent from the field, went 8-for-11 from the line and had 44 rebounds and 18 turnovers.
 
CSB is off now until Dec. 29-30 when it travels to Nashville for a pair of games at the Music City Classic. CSB takes on Husson University on Dec. 29 and St. Norbert on Dec. 30. Both games will be played at Trevecca Nazarene University.