ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — With four games in the past seven days, the first week of the new year has not been an easy ride for the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team.

Luckily for SMU, three of the four games took place in Winona, so travel time was not a factor, and all three games ended in its favor, including a 72-66 win over Division II Winona State and a 60-53 triumph over Gustavus Adolphus, tying both schools for the third place Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ranking at a 4-2 record.

But when the Cardinals traveled to St. Benedict Saturday for the last game of their four-game week, the MIAC's No. 2 ranked Blazers were not sympathetic, handing SMU a 65-54 loss.

Megan Moran (Burlington, Wis.) pumped in a team-high 15 points to lead the Cardinals (4-2 MIAC, 8-3 overall)), who led by two points at the half but allowed the Blazers a 35-22 advantage in the second half, while Angie Arrington (Spring Grove, Minn.) added 12 points and Jamie Rattunde (Rollingstone, Minn.) had 10 points.

Anna Heikenen was responsible for 23 of St. Ben's 65 points, while teammate Darby Noreen added 11 points to the win.

SMU travels to Hamline on Wednesday for another MIAC contest beginning at 5:30 p.m.