The Knights (7-7, 5-4 MIAC) allowed only five field-goals in the second half in winning their second straight game for the first time since Dec. 7.
Ashley Luehmann added 11 points and five rebounds for the Cardinals (5-8, 2-7 MIAC), who lost to the Knights for the ninth consecutive time.
The outcome was never really in doubt, as Carleton scored the first nine points and stretched the lead to 23-7 on an Anna Biewen three-point play at the midway point of the first half. The Knights stretched the lead to 17 on a Kari Christianson three-point play before settling for a 32-20 halftime advantage.
The second half started extremely poor for both teams. The Knights managed only seven points over the first 8 minutes, 20 seconds of the second half, but they held SMU scoreless over the same time span, extending to a 39-20 lead. SMU finally got a Jessica Weisbrod free throw with just over 11 minutes left for its first points of the second half and made its first field goal on a Danielle Dehning bucket with 10 minutes, 58 seconds left.
SMU got no closer than 14 points the rest of the way as the Knights held the Cardinals to five second-half field goals.
Biewen added nine points off the bench for the Knights while Christianson and Annie Isler added seven points each. The Knights blocked eight shots and had a +6 turnover margin, turning it into a 13-2 edge in points off turnovers.
Carleton ends the first half of its MIAC schedule by hosting Bethel University on Wednesday, Jan 18 at 5:45 p.m. as part of a women’s/men’s doubleheader. Both games can be heard live on Knights Online.
Carleton vs Saint Mary's 01/16/06 5:45 p.m. at SMU Gym, Winona, Minn. At SMU Gym, Winona, Minn. CARLETON 55, SAINT MARY'S 40 CARLETON (7-7, 5-4 MIAC) Megan Vig 6-8 1-3 15; Anna Biewen 4-9 1-3 9; Kari Christianson 1-1 5-5 7; Annie Isler 0-1 7-8 7; Hannah Oken-Berg 3-9 0-2 6; Sarah Kunelius 2-3 1-2 5; Andrea Dahl 1-4 1-2 3; Andrea Korb 0-1 2-3 2; Sarah Lincoln 0-4 1-4 1; Emily Strandmark 0-2 0-0 0; Joy Esboldt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-43 19-32 55. SAINT MARY'S (5-8, 2-7 MIAC) Ashley Luehmann 3-10 2-3 11; Jessica Weisbrod 2-7 5-8 9; Danielle Dehning 1-6 6-8 8; Kelly Tanke 1-2 0-0 3; Sarah Murphy 1-7 0-0 3; Amy Saufferer 1-4 0-0 2; Alyse Coates 1-5 0-0 2; Alissa Banttari 1-1 0-0 2; Melissa Launhardt 0-1 0-0 0; Dusty Benham 0-3 0-0 0; Jacqui Ripoli 0-0 0-0 0; Nichole Hanson 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 11-50 13-19 40. Carleton...................... 32 23 - 55 Saint Mary's.................. 20 20 - 40 3-point goals-Carleton 2-5 (Megan Vig 2-2; Sarah Kunelius 0-1; Andrea Dahl 0-1; Sarah Lincoln 0-1), Saint Mary's 5-23 (Ashley Luehmann 3-8; Sarah Murphy 1-7; Kelly Tanke 1-2; Amy Saufferer 0-1; Dusty Benham 0-2; Nichole Hanson 0-3). Fouled out--Carleton-None, Saint Mary's-Amy Saufferer; Alyse Coates. Rebounds-Carleton 38 (Sarah Lincoln 10), Saint Mary's 39 (Danielle Dehning 8). Assists-Carleton 8 (Annie Isler 2; Sarah Kunelius 2), Saint Mary's 7 (Ashley Luehmann 3). Total fouls-Carleton 13, Saint Mary's 22. A-130