WINONA, Minn. — The St. Scholastica women's basketball team battled on the road Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell 80–63 to Saint Mary's University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) matchup at David R. Thies Arena.
The Saints stayed within striking distance early, trailing by just three after the opening quarter and competing possession-by-possession through much of the first half. Saint Mary's created separation coming out of the locker room, using a strong third quarter to extend its lead. St. Scholastica continued to fight in the fourth, but the Cardinals were able to close out the contest.
Ava Haus (St. Michael, MN/St. Michael-Albertville High School) paced the Saints with a season-high 28 points, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the afternoon. Evie Schmitz (Burnsville, MN/St. Louis Park) added 12 points, while Kloey Lind (Pine City, MN/Pine City HS) contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. The Saints continued to attack offensively, but Saint Mary's capitalized on key stretches in the second half to secure the win.
Despite the setback, the afternoon still delivered historic news for St. Scholastica. With Saint Benedict falling at Hamline earlier in the day, the Saints have officially clinched a spot in the MIAC Playoffs. It marks the program's first postseason berth since joining the MIAC prior to the 2021-22 season. Currently in a tie for 5th, their seed is yet to be determined with two pivotal games against other playoff-qualifying teams remaining. For the full MIAC women's basketball standings, click here.
The playoff qualification is a significant milestone for the Saints, reflecting the steady growth of the program within one of Division III's premier conferences. With postseason basketball now guaranteed, St. Scholastica will look to finish the regular season strong and continue building momentum heading into its first MIAC tournament appearance.
The Saints will finish their regular season with a pair of home games, first against Gustavus on Wednesday, February 18. They finish the season at home on Saturday against Concordia (MN).
