Anna Biewen added 12 points for the Knights (9-2, 6-2 MIAC), who beat the Cardinals for the 11th straight time. The Knights shot 42.6 percent from the floor and held SMU to 35.5 percent shooting.
Stephanie Ayers led St. Mary's (3-8, 1-7 MIAC) with 16 points off the bench. Jessica Weisbrod added 12 points and 15 rebounds, 10 on the offensive glass.
Early it looked as if the Knights would run away from the Cardinals, as they took 10-2 advantage four minutes into the game and stretched that lead to 13, 24-11, at the 7-minute, 20-second mark. The Cardinals, though, kept the margin at 10 and Nichole Hanson drained a three right before the half, leaving the Knights in front, 32-25.
The Knights still led by nine less than three minutes into the second when the fiesty Cardinals used a quick 7-0 spurt, capped by an Ayers bucket, to tie the game at 38-38. The Knights went to work, though, eventually scoring six unanswered points to pull in front by eight with eight minutes left. A Sarah Kunelius three-pointer from the right corner pushed the Knights to a 56-45 lead with five minutes left, and that proved to be the kill shot the host team needed.
Kunelius added eight points off the bench for the Knights, who extended their winning streak to a modest three games. Amber Connor added eight point and four boards.
The Knights are on the road for three straight games before finishing the regular-season slate by playing nine of their final 11 games at West Gym, where they are now 57-6 since the 2001-02 season. They start the three-game road stretch at Northfield rival St. Olaf College on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.
St. Mary's University vs Carleton College 01/10/07 7:45 p.m. at Northfield, Minn. (West Gym) At Northfield, Minn. (West Gym) CARLETON COLLEGE 63, ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY 53 ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY (3-8, 1-7 MIAC) Stephanie Ayers 7-14 1-3 16; Jessica Weisbrod 5-14 2-2 12; Kelly Tanke 3-16 0-0 7; Nichole Hanson 2-5 0-0 6; Danielle Dehning 2-5 0-0 4; Dusty Benham 2-4 0-0 4; Amy Saufferer 1-2 1-3 3; Melissa Launhardt 0-1 1-2 1; Tara Girolamo 0-1 0-0 0; Allyson Friestleben 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-62 5-10 53. CARLETON COLLEGE (9-2, 6-2 MIAC) Hannah Oken-Berg 7-10 6-8 20; Anna Biewen 3-3 6-10 12; Sarah Kunelius 2-10 2-2 8; Amber Connor 3-4 2-4 8; Annie Eckhoff 3-6 0-0 6; Sarah Lincoln 0-6 3-5 3; Joy Esboldt 1-2 0-1 2; Megan Mileusnic 1-4 0-2 2; Annie Isler 0-2 2-3 2. Totals 20-47 21-35 63. St. Mary's University......... 25 28 - 53 Carleton College.............. 32 31 - 63 3-point goals-St. Mary's University 4-14 (Nichole Hanson 2-4; Kelly Tanke 1-7; Stephanie Ayers 1-2; Jessica Weisbrod 0-1), Carleton College 2-9 (Sarah Kunelius 2-6; Sarah Lincoln 0-1; Joy Esboldt 0-1; Annie Isler 0-1). Fouled out--St. Mary's University-Danielle Dehning, Carleton College-None. Rebounds-St. Mary's University 40 (Jessica Weisbrod 15), Carleton College 40 (Sarah Lincoln 8; Megan Mileusnic 8). Assists-St. Mary's University 9 (Jessica Weisbrod 3), Carleton College 10 (Annie Isler 5). Total fouls-St. Mary's University 26, Carleton College 13. A-200