It marked Carleton's fifth consecutive MIAC win to open 2004-05, coming on the heels of an 0-3 start to the season.
Jamie Rattunde led the Cardinals with 16 points, nine rebounds and five steals, but Carleton forced her into a 9-for-21 shooting performance with five turnovers. Ashley Luehmann paced SMU with 17 points, but the Knights held the Cardinals' leading scorer, Angie Arrington, 12 points below her team-leading 17.2 points per game average, as she tallied but five points on 1-of-9 shooting with four turnovers.
Carleton (5-3, 5-0 MIAC) led nearly the entire game, holding the Cardinals (5-1, 3-1 MIAC) to their lowest point total of the season. The Cardinals, who entered the game averaging 81.4 points per game, went nearly six minutes without a field goal after taking a 13-12 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Carleton answered with a 14-6 spurt, capped by consecutive three-pointers from Megan Vig and Taylor Ross to build Carleton's lead to 26-18. The Knights settled for a 28-21 lead at the break.
The hosts pulled within three points twice within the first five minutes of the second half, the final time at 30-27. But Beth Freeman made two free throws and scored off an assist from Katie Freeman. Following a Luehmann lay-up, Katie Freeman drilled a three-pointer and then made another one minute later, pushing the Carleton lead to eight as SMU wouldn't get any closer than six points the rest of the game.
The Knights are now off until Monday, January 3, when they host the only other MIAC unbeaten squad, Gustavus Adolphus College, at 7:30 p.m. It is the 2004-05 home opener for the Knights.
Carleton vs Saint Mary's 12/11/04 1:00 at SMU Gym, Winona, Minn. At SMU Gym, Winona, Minn. CARLETON 57, SAINT MARY'S 42 CARLETON (4-0 MIAC, 4-3) Kristi Colbenson 6-10 3-4 16; Beth Freeman 3-8 4-6 10; Kari Christianson 5-12 0-2 10; Megan Vig 2-10 0-0 6; Andrea Korb 2-6 1-2 5; Taylor Ross 2-3 0-0 5; Katie Freeman 1-4 0-0 3; Adrea Dahl 1-1 0-0 2; Emily Strandmark 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 8-14 57. SAINT MARY'S (3-0 MIAC, 5-0) Ashley Luehmann 6-11 2-2 17; Jamie Rattunde 6-21 4-4 16; Angie Arrington 1-9 3-4 5; Megan Lick 1-2 0-0 2; Megan Moran 0-6 0-2 0; Jessica Weisbrod 0-2 0-0 0; Tessa Stranik 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 14-55 11-14 42. Carleton...................... 28 29 - 57 Saint Mary's.................. 21 21 - 42 3-point goals-Carleton 5-13 (Megan Vig 2-4; Katie Freeman 1-2; Taylor Ross 1-2; Kristi Colbenson 1-1; Andrea Korb 0-1; Kari Christianson 0-1; Beth Freeman 0-2), Saint Mary's 3-17 (Ashley Luehmann 3-7; Jamie Rattunde 0-3; Angie Arrington 0-1; Megan Moran 0-2; Tessa Stranik 0-4). Fouled out--Carleton-Megan Vig, Saint Mary's-None. Rebounds-Carleton 44 (Beth Freeman 9), Saint Mary's 37 (Jamie Rattunde 9). Assists-Carleton 11 (Katie Freeman 4), Saint Mary's 4 (Angie Arrington 2). Total fouls-Carleton 14, Saint Mary's 15. A-222